
Glass. 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



{ 



THE 



SWORD OF THE LORD 



HOW TO USE IT 



BY 

D. W." WHITTLE 




Dayton, O. 
W. J. SHUEY 



Svi^r&a/ 



'3fai 



Copyright, 

By W.J.SHUEY, 

18%. 

All rights reserved. 



PREFACE. 



This book for Christian workers has 
grown out of my having prepared some clas- 
sified texts for the very valuable editions of 
"The International Bible," used by thousands 
in all parts of the land. From my own ex- 
perience of twenty-one years in evangelistic 
work, I have jotted down the leading ques- 
I ons I have met with from Christians who 
Eave desired to be fitted for service and from 
'.wakened ones who have desired to find 
;hrist. I have given, in the first instance, 
.vhat I believe to be scriptural answers; and, 
n the second instance, nothing but answers 
of Scripture. I am confident of the wisdom 
and efficiency of the answers under the second 
head, and have no doubt of the use God will 
make of his own word. I hope I have been 
guided by God's Spirit in the answers given in 
the first instance, so that some help may be 
afforded to Christ's servants who desire to 
know the best methods of giving the Master's 
message and the most efficient way of doing 
his work and studying his word. 

Should my little work be blessed by God to 
the helping of any one of his children, to him 
be the glory. 

D. W. Whittle. 
Syracuse, 2V. F., April 1, 1895. 



iii 



CONTENTS. 



Preface, - - - iii 

Introduction, from Joseph Parker, - - vii 
Forty Questions from Workers, - - 11 

1. Qualifications. 

2. How to Study the Bible. 

3. Revivals and Revival Work. 

4. Inquiry Meetings. 

5. Consecration of Workers. 

6. Children's Meetings. 

7. Loss of Spiritual Power. 

8. Forty Books for Worker's Library. 

Methods of Doing Good, - - - 35 

Forty Questions Answered from the 
Word of God. Scripture texts for use 
in Christian work, ----- 42 

Calendar for Daily Reading of the 
Scriptures, by which the Bible may be 
finished in one year, ----- 69 

Table of Bible Weights, Money, and 
Measures, 81 

The Hebrew Calendar, - 84 

"Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My 
Soul?" 87 



INTRODUCTION. 



FROM JOSEPH PARKER. 

The Bible is a complete armory, as we 
may read in the sixth chapter of Paul's 
Epistle to the Ephesians. We in these latter 
days have seen some curious specimens of 
cutlery. We have seen the boy with that 
wonderful thing in his hand of which he is 
so proud. He says, "That is the great blade, 
for cutting wood, and leather, and hard sub- 
stances; and this is a little blade, for making 
pens and cutting pencils; and this is a lancet 
blade, and this is a bodkin, and this is a 
piercer of another kind, and this is a screw." 
And so he turns them all out under one haft. 
ft is even so with this better haft. We can 
turn all sorts of blades out of it, in every 
possible direction, and hold it up like a com- 
plete armory. We now propose to do so, and 
to ask whether in all the equipments of life 
there is aught to be compared to the sword of 
the Lord. 

There is none like it for variety of adap- 
tation. We find in the Word of God weapons 
that we can turn in every direction, — weap- 
ons that suit every mood and every combi- 
nation of circumstances by which we are 
surrounded. We need not go out of the book 
for a single answer. Whatsoever may be the 
peculiar gift of mind or tongue, we find in 
the Word of God— without consulting any 
other author— the precise answer to every 
difficulty, the right method of meeting every 
opposition, and the one true solace that can 
get into the heart and heal it with the succor 
which it needs. The sword of the Lord is 
vii 



Vlll INTRODUCTION 

quick and powerful, piercing to the dividing 
asunder, getting into the most critical parts 
of our lives, searching out the intents and 
purposes of the soul; not dealing with broad, 
general statements only, but dealing with the 
most subtle, recondite, difficult conditions 
and experiences of the heart. No man need 
have any difficulty in piercing any casuistical 
question to its very marrow, if he will only 
avail himself of the services of the sword of 
the Spirit. Then, if aught might be needed 
to ward off those who would give sorrow to 
the soul, enemies that would plague the 
heart with much difficulty, infuse into our 
troubled life much grief, there is no blade 
that can reach so far, and strike so keenly, 
and defend so completely as the sword of the 
Spirit, which is the word of God. 

I would impress all young readers with the 
comprehensiveness of the Bible, with its 
universality of adaptation to all circum- 
stances and necessities of human life. We 
may be accused of boldness for making this 
statement, yet we assert it; for we fear a good 
many young people and others are going else- 
where for defense, instead of going into the 
sanctuary of the Lord, where the weapons of 
heaven are provided in rich and exquisite 
profusion. Many men are going to hand- 
books, to elaborate treatises, to severe argu- 
ments, conducted by uninspired genius, in 
the expectation of finding- there the answer 
to some particular difficulty. Men are in- 
quiring again and again, "What books can 
be recommended to meet certain classes of 
objections?" We recommend the Word of God as 
the best answer to every objection that can be 
brought against it. Let the word of the Lord 
be the defense of the Lord. Let the Lord's 
own word be the answer to the suggestion, of 
every devil and the seductiveness of every 
tempter. We find in the book of God all we 
need, and we recommend those who are going 
elsewhere for weapons with which to fight 
the battles of life, to turn back to the old 



INTRODUCTION IX 

armor set in order by the hand of the living 
One himself. 

There is none like it for ease of carriage. 
There are weapons that are very difficult to 
carry, but the sword of the Lord is not one of 
them. There are weapons of war very intri- 
cately constructed and very difficult of man- 
agement, very cumbrous, and altogether op- 
pressive ; but the sword of the Lord does not 
belong to that class. Consider how little a 
book the Bible is, and regard that circum- 
stance as one of the finest proofs of its pre- 
sumptive inspiration and adaptation to the 
wants of man. You can carry the Word of 
the Lord in one hand; you can carry it in 
your smallest pocket ; you can read it through 
from end to end, and keep the memory and 
all the intellectual and spiritual faculties 
in concentrated attention while you pass 
through the exercise. Have you ever tried 
this? Are we not in danger of snapping off 
little pieces of the sword and mistaking them 
for. the whole weapon — of taking the mere 
filings of the steel and complaining that the 
sword is without strength or edge? Take it 
as a whole; abide by it in its entirety; strike 
with the whole force of it. It is possible to 
do this, not in the letter, ljut in the spirit; 
and when a man wields the whole weapon, 
he never strikes but to kill the foe, — he never 
puts out his hand but in omnipotent and 
complete defense. 

What sword must we have? It must be 
the sword of the Lord. There is none like 
that. It is one, it is simple, it is complete, it 
is sufficient; it has the testimony of ages 
written upon it. Who, then, says that he 
will take the sword of the Lord and fight the 
battles of life with it? Could the dead bear 
witness, in countless thousands they would 
say, with all the emphasis of infinitely 
varied experience, "There is none like it!" 
And they have tested many ; they know one 
sword from another— the true steel from the 
false lead. And all history says in our hear- 



X INTRODUCTION 

ing this day, "If you want a sword that can 
do execution, that has inspiration in its very 
touch, victory in its very steel, take the 
sword of the Lord, for there is none like it." 
We have need of it. We have not the an- 
swer in ourselves; it is put into us by the 
breath of the Spirit of the Lord. Life is a 
war— a fierce and terrible fight. Some of us 
seem to have no rest night or day; we are be- 
sieged by the enemy; we are well-nigh over- 
whelmed by the foe. What is our defense? 
The sword of the living God. Let us take the 
sword of the Lord and of Gideon: it smiteth 
down a host like one man, and cleaveth the 
bones of the mighty like straw; the helmet 
of brass is as a covering of ivy before it, and 
the breastplate of iron as a flimsy gauze. O, 
dear, dear sword ! The grand old veterans of 
other days have passed it on to us, and we, 
with added victories, ought to hand it on to 
generations yet to come. Every day the 
Bible seems to be newer, deeper, richer, 
mightier than ever it did before. It is the 
sum of all literature, the consummation of 
all genius, a repository of consolation, a 
solace of healing and redemption for all the 
ills and woes and griefs of this poor life. 
Blessed are they who have hidden this word 
in their innermost hearts. 

[ Note. — The above quotations are from comments 
on I. Sam. 21:9 , pages 21 to 25, Vol. VII., People's 
Bible. The editor of this hand-book would very 
heartily commend Dr Parker's celebrated Commen- 
tary to all lovers of Bible truth.] 



FORTY QUESTIONS FROM 
WORKERS. 



QUALIFICATIONS. 

1. What are the qualifications for a 
successful winner of souls f 

Ansiver. Knowledge of the Scrip- 
tures and the enduement of the Holy 
Spirit. 

2. Should one ivho has received the 
Holy Spirit and has but little knowledge 
of the Bible go into the work f 

Answer. Yes ; as soon as Christ is re- 
ceived we should at once seek to lead 
others to Christ. If we have had knowl- 
edge enough to receive him ourselves, 
we can impart that same knowledge to 
others ; seeking, in the meantime, to be 
ever increasing in our understanding of 
the Scriptures, and not being ambitious 
to get into forms of public work for which 
we may not be fitted. The great need 
of our day is individual, hand-to-hand, 
out-of-sight-of-man workers, in homes, 
on the farms, in after-meetings, in Sab- 
bath-school classes, in the shop, on the 
road, in the school, who will use the 
Bible, up to the measure of their abil- 
ity, to teach to others the way of life. 
This is the description the Holy Ghost 
11 



12 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

gives of the early church: "Scattered 
abroad . . . every where preaching the 
word" (Acts 8:4). 

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE. 

3. What suggestions would you give 
as to the most profitable way to study the 
Bible f 

Answer, (a) Cultivate the habit of 
silent prayer whenever you open the 
Bible. It is the book of the Spirit of 
God, and he alone can unfold its mean- 
ing and give life and power to its teach- 
ing. 

(6) Read the four Gospels to get 
before your mind clearly the earthly 
life of our Lord Jesus, and in your 
reading note carefully and read atten- 
tively all the marginal references. You 
will thus, by the study of these Gospels, 
get into the whole Bible and see its 
connection with Christ. 

(c) Read the Acts to see that Christ 
continues with his church by his 
Spirit, and to find what we may expect 
him to do with and through us in add- 
ing to the unfinished book as being 
" the acts of the Holy Ghost." 

(d) Read the Epistles to receive the 
teaching of the Holy Ghost as to the 
fullness of Christ for the believer, — 
our position in Christ as accepted by 
God, our place for Christ as called out 
of this world, and our work for him as 
his witnesses to men by our holy living 
and by our testimony for his word. 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 13 

(e) Read the Book of Revelation to 
see that in the present age the church 
of Christ passes through continued 
trials, to culminate in the return 
of the Lord Jesus to take his true 
saints out of "the great tribulation," 
to overthrow by his personal presence 
the power of wickedness, and to set up 
his kingdom and reign over the earth. 

(/) Read the Old Testament to see in 
its pages "the New Testament hidden 
in the Old. ' ' The story of Adam and Eve 
is to teach us of Christ and the church. 
As Noah and his family were saved in 
the ark, so we are saved in Christ. 
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Judah, 
Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, 
Samuel, David, Solomon, are all types 
of, Christ, and their lives are to be 
studied with this in view. The expe- 
rience of Israel is a type of the expe- 
rience of the church. Read the prophe- 
cies of the Bible, with Rom. 11 : 25 as the 
key: " Blindness in part is happened to 
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles 
be come in." "Israel" means literal 
Israel, the Jewish nation ; " Jerusalem" 
means literal Jerusalem, the city stand- 
ing on the hills of Judah, now in ruins 
and in wretchedness, and "trodden 
under foot of the Gentiles," but de- 
stined to arise in splendor and be "the 
joy of the whole earth." 

( g ) Study the Bible by topics. Get 
a blank book and write out the passages 
that strike you on such subjects as the 



14 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

titles of Jesus, — "Son of God," "Son 
of Man," "Redeemer," "Shepherd," 
"Priest," "King," etc., etc.; then, on* 
"Sin," "Man's Depravity," "Grace,"* 
" Redemption," " Faith," •" Love," I 
" Forgiveness," " Justification," " Sane-* 
tification," "Regeneration," "Christ's 
Second Coming," "Heaven," etc., etc. 

(h) Read the Bible through from be-'i 
ginning to end. When you finish it J 
read it again in the same manner; then* 
agaix, and so on all through your life. I 
See in the back part of this band-book 
a calendar for reading through the'* 
Bible in one year. This might be^ 
profitably followed in private reading. 
For careful and systematic study of? 
the whole Bible, the "Daily Scripture *j 
Readings" published in Record of 
Christian Work, recommended by Mr. 5 
Moody, will be found helpful. If de- 
sirous of becoming a Bible student, send r 
for this magazine and look it over. 1 

REVIVALS AND REVIVAL WORK. 

4. What is the best way to promote a- 
revival in a community f 

Answer. Let the few who feel a de- 1 
sire for it get together frequently and 
pray for it. Let this be in addition to, 
and outside of, the regular prayer-meet- 
ings — at homes, schoolhouses, or un- 
usual places. As numbers increase, 

x The Record of Christian Work may be ob- 
tained from religious-book sellers, or from 
the publishers, F. H. Revell Company, Chi- 
cago and New York. 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 15 

seek to unite all the ministers in a 
union effort, and plan for a series of 
meetings, with systematic effort to 
..'each the unconverted. There should 
3e much prayer before making a public 
tort. 

5. Is an evangelist a necessity f 
Ansiver. Not a necessity; but expe- 

ience has shown that in union meet- 
ngs there is less friction if a helper 
rorn outside is selected as the leader in 
he work. 

6. If the churches will not unite, 
hould one church go on with special 
meetings f 

Answer. Certainly, if pastor and 
•raying ones feel that the Spirit of God 
s so leading them. 

7. Would you recommend the calling 
f an evangelist in such a case f 

Ansiver. Not as a rule. The pastor, 
nth his people stirred up to help him, 
an usually accomplish more than an 
utside helper could accomplish, and 
he work will be more beneficial to the 
hureh when thus done through thenar 
elves. So far as is possible, be your 
iwn evangelist. But, as Jonathan Ed- 
wards used Whitefield, and Lyman 
Beecher used Nettleton, and Dr. Be- 
nian used Finney, and Theodore Cuy- 
ler used Moody, do not hesitate under 
special circumstances and at special 
easons to make use of men specially 
ailed and specially gifted for evangel- 
sfcic work. 



16 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

8. What is the best way to advertise 
evangelistic meetings f 

Answer. A card or circular left by 
personal visitation frona house to house. 
Use also the newspapers, and get good 
reports printed of the meetings. Have 
meetings ticketed and give out the 
tickets in the congregation. Put a good 
business man in charge of the advertis- 
ing and tell him to do it in a business 
way. 

9. What are the preliminary steps in 
organizing a series of meetings ? 

Answer. Let the ministers get to- 
gether and agree upon what they want. 
Let each minister bring the matter be- 
fore his congregation and have them 
discuss and formally approve. Have a 
union meeting of all the congregations, 
or of a general committee composed of 
committees appointed by the individual 
churches. At this meeting let the fol- 
lowing committees be appointed : ( 1 ) An 
Executive Committee, composed of all 
the pastors and one layman from each 
church ; (2) a Finance Committee ; (3) 
a Committee on Music and Choir ; (4) a 
Committee on Location of Meetings and 
Ushering ; (5) a Committee on Advertis- 
ing ; (6) a Committee on Entertainment ; 
(7) a Committee on Work in After- 
Meetings. The chairman and secretary 
of the Executive Committee will be the 
important officers. Let these be good 
men, who feel a burden for the work. 
Map out preliminary work to be done 



THE SWORD OF THE EORD 17 

before the evangelist conies; such 
as house-to-house visitation, cottage 
prayer-meetings, union prayer-meet- 
ings, going around to the various 
churches, exchange of pulpits by the 
ministers, union gatherings of young 
people's societies and of Sabbath-school 
teachers, etc., etc. Get as many people 
interested and set as many people to 
work as possible. Let the Committee 
on Music get all the singers in the 
various congregations into the union 
choir. Use the leaders of the various 
choirs to make selections of the best 
available material. But be sure to 
have a large and effective chair. Make 
much of this. To this end furnish accom- 
modations for them by building a plat- 
form in the place where the meetings 
are to be held. Bo not neglect this, and 
do not neglect having a low-topped cabi- 
net organ on the platform for the use of 
the singer of solos. 

10. Is it material as to the hymns 
used in evangelistic meetings f 

Answer. It is of the highest impor- 
tance that a thoughtful judgment 
should be exercised in what we put be- 
fore the people to sing. There are 
popular hymns that contain errors of 
doctrine that would condemn any 
minister as heretical if they were con- 
tained in a sermon ; and yet popular- 
ized in a song, they do far more 
damage than they could do in a hun- 
dred sermons. Charles Wesley's hymns 



18 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

• 

have been far more used in spreading 
gospel truth, than John Wesley's ser- 
mons. Two rules should govern us in 
what we sing, — first, be sure that what 
you sing is true ; second, be sure that 
you are true in singing it. 

For union evangelistic services, the 
hymn books compiled for denomina- 
tional use will not answer, as they nat- 
urally contain pieces intended to em- 
phasize denominational peculiarities, 
and are calculated to provoke discussion. 
In consequence of this, and also because 
the music in the church books is of 
a heavier and less popular style than 
that which seems best calculated to 
inspire the hearty singing that is desira- 
ble in gospel services, there have been 
published in this country and in Great 
Britain a large number of hymn books 
for evangelistic and mission meetings. 
Make a careful selection from these of 
the book best adapted to your people, 
looking over the words to see that they 
are scriptural, and that they teach defi- 
nitely something of profit to the soul, 
and that will help instruct and impress 
those who sing them. There are hosts 
of hymns that are a mere jingle of 
rhymes, — about ' ' beautiful stars, " " bab- 
bling streams," and "angel spirits that 
come in dreams," — that are not Chris- 
tian and contain no Christian truth. 
Pagans, Spiritualists, and Unitarians 
could all unite in singing them. Such 
songs are of no use in meetings where 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 19 

the Holy Ghost has been asked to be 
present, for his power can only be felt 
when Christ is the sum and center of all 
that is done. There is no doubt what- 
ever that the Spirit of God is often 
grieved, and his power withdrawn, by 
the singing of Christless hymns, or by 
the singing of Christ-honoring hymns 
by Christless singers. .So, have a care 
as to the hymns you use, as well as to 
the choir that sings them. x 

11. How would you conduct an evan- 
gelistic service f 

Answer. By singing and praying for 
thirty or forty minutes, beginning just 
as soon as there were many people pres- 
ent, even if it were half an hour before 
the advertised time of meeting. I 
would ask the ministers assisting to be 

1 The series of Gospel Hymn books known 
as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, is undoubtedly the best 
in the world for evangelistic use. They have 
grown up under Mr. Moody's supervision 
during the past quarter of a century of active 
work, and are the outgrowth of that work, 
called forth by its needs, and made to suit 
the emergencies that have arisen during its 
progress in Great Britain and in this country. 
No other books are probably so widely and so 
permanently valuable as the compilations 
superintended by Mr. Sankey. The 5 and 6 
Combined is the book at present used by Mr. 
Moody and evangelists associated with him. 
Get copies of the music edition for your 
choir, and one or two hundred of the ten- 
cent word edition for the congregation, and 
let the people buy, as wanted, of the dealers 
or at the door of the meeting what may be 
further desired. 



20 THE SWORD OF THE EORD 

short in prayer, that many might pray, 
instead of one or two. I would try to 
have the sermon never over forty min- 
utes in length, and closed by short 
prayer from the preacher. If the ser- 
mon were thirty minutes, it would add 
to its effectiveness, and there would be 
a larger after-meeting, as a rule. 

INQUIRY MEETINGS. 

12. How would you conduct after- 
meetings f 

Answer. It would depend upon the 
degree of interest in the meetings and 
upon the accommodations available for 
the work. Usually, after the sermon I 
would ask Christians interested and 
those who desired to become Christians 
to come into the adjoining chapel, or 
lecture room. Let singing be started at 
once in this room, and be kept up until 
all are gathered that can be from the 
audience. Let God's blessing be sought 
in prayer. Let requests for prayer be 
invited. Ask those who have come in 
who desire to be Christians to rise, or 
to hold up the hand. Ask those pres- 
ent to bow their heads in silent prayer 
while this is being done. After audible 
prayer, rise and sing a hymn, and ask 
all who have risen for prayer to come 
forward to the front seat, as further 
willing to confess that they want Christ 
or that they have received him, and to 
receive instruction at the close. After 
inquirers have come forward, dismiss 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 21 

the meeting and set Christians to work 
talking to and praying with the in- 
quirers ; urge Christians in back part 
of meeting to do personal work with 
any near them who are not Christians. 
As interest increases, this order can be 
varied as the work may demand. After 
the sermon, Christians may be invited to 
stay in the church and hold a prayer- 
meeting, and inquirers alone invited to 
pass into the chapel, while a hymn is 
being sung. This will afford an oppor- 
tunity for Christians to do personal 
work, in passing among the pews and 
seeking to get people to attend the in- 
quiry meeting. There should be work- 
ers with their Bibles to go into the 
after-meeting to talk with inquirers. 

Where there is no adjoining room, 
the inquiry meeting must be held in 
the audience room. After the sermon, 
let those in the audience who wish to 
go pass out during the singing of a 
hymn ; then have prayer, and conduct 
the meeting the same as in the chapel. 
Sometimes it will be well to close the 
sermon with a drawing of the net, with- 
out any dismissal. Give out a hymn, 
and ask that the front pews be vacated, 
and then invite all who are willing to 
confess that they want Christ to come 
and occupy these seats. Let two or 
more hymns be sung, and while this in- 
vitation is being accepted, have pastors 
and workers go through the congre- 
gation, assisting in the work. When 



22 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

work is successfully started in this way, 
it can be kept up from night to night, 
by asking all who have been forward 
to come again, that they may receive 
instruction and seek added blessing, 
and urging others to come with them. 
After instruction and prayer with all 
thus gathered, the workers should speak 
with them individually. 

Where after-work is to be done in the 
audience room, workers should be as- 
signed to different pews all over the 
house, and made responsible for work 
in their locality, either in inviting un- 
saved ones to go forward or in convers- 
ing with them where they are, should 
that course be adopted. 

13. Are not people apt to be offended 
if spoken to personally after a meeting f 

Answer. Not, as a rule, if a pleasant 
and courteous bearing is maintained by 
the worker. There is great power in 
politeness. Courtesy conquers, where 
rudeness repels. A Christian should 
always be a gentleman. Do not be dis- 
couraged if any one spoken to shows 
temper and manifests unreasonable dis- 
pleasure. He will be ashamed of it 
afterwards, and it will be used by the 
Holy Spirit to convict him of sin. 

14. What is the most important thing 
to find out in dealing with inquirers f 

Answer. Whether they are convicted 
of sin. 

15. If not convicted, what can be done f 
Answer. Show them such scriptures 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 23 

as are calculated to awaken them, and 
offer a prayer with them that the Spirit 
of God may convict them. 

16. Should we urge people to profess 
to accept Christ when they have no con- 
viction ® 

Answer. No. "Repentance toward 
God" is the inseparable accompani- 
ment of "faith toward our Lord Jesus 
Christ" (Acts 20: 21). 

17. What scriptures are most useful 
in' producing conviction of sin f 

Answer. Those that speak of the re- 
jection and suffering of Christ. — Acts 
2: 22,23; 3: 13-15; Isa. 53; John 3: 16-18. 

18. How would you use law f 
Answer. To convince men that they 

had not kept it, and never could keep 
it, and that they were condemned by it. 
(Rom. 7: 12, 13; 8: 3; 3: 19, 20; Gal. 3:10- 
12.) 

19. Where there is conviction of sin, 
and a real desire to be saved, what 
course should be pursued t 

Answer. Show from the Scriptures 
Jesus Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour, 
and urge to an immediate acceptance 
of him. 

20. What scriptures have you found 
most useful for this purpose $ 

Answer. Isa. 1:18; Isa. 53:6; Isa. 
55: 6, 7 ; Matt. 11 : 28 ; Mark 2:5; Luke 
7: 48-50 ; Luke 15: 17-20 ; Luke 23: 39-43 ; 
Luke 24 : 46-48 ; John 1 : 12 ; John 3 : 14- 
18 ; John 3: 36 ; John 4: 10 ; John 5 : 24 ; 
John 6: 37 ; John 7: 37 ; John 9: 7 ; John 



24 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

10 : 9 ; John 10 : 27-29 ; Acts 2: 38, 39 ; i 
Acts 10: 43 ; Acts 13: 38, 39 ; Rom. 3 : 21- ! 
26 ; Rom. 5 : 8-11 ; Rom. 10: 8-11 ; it. Cor. | 
5 : 18-21 ; Gal. 3 : 13, 14 ; Eph. 1 : 7, 12, 13 ; 
Col. 1 : 12-14 ; I. Tim. 1:15; II. Tim. 
1: 12; Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 7: 25; I. Peter j 
1: 18, 19 ; I. Peter 2: 24 ; I. John 1: 7-10 ; 
I. John 4:9,10; I. John 5:9-13; Rev. 
3:20; Rev. 22:17. 

These forty texts can be marked in 
your Bible, and the list copied off on 
to a fly-leaf, for ready reference. 

21 . Hoiv many verses is it best to use 
with an inquirer f 

Answer. When upon the point of 
urging the acceptance of Christ, it is 
best to confine the attention to one 
verse, only turning to others to make it 
more plain, and always turuing back to 
the verse you have chosen. It is a 
great benefit to one who accepts Christ 
to associate his decision with a definite 
message from God's Word. 

22. When an inquirer sees the truth 
as to Christ as a personal Saviour, and 
believes the word, what course would you 
pursue ? 

Answer. Have him kneel with you, 
and after praying for him have him 
pray for himself. 

23. Is there any way to help him, 
when he feels that he cannot pray f 

Answer. Yes ; tell him to say, " God 
be merciful to me a sinner, for Christ's 
sake." Then ask him if he believes 
that God has been merciful and if he 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 2o 

accepts his mercy in Christ. If he says 
yes, tell him to say so to God, and thank 
him. 

24. How soon after Christ is accepted 
should the inquirer make confession of 
him f 

Answer. Immediately. If the pas- 
tor of the church he attends is present, 
or any member of his family, or friend, 
have him go at once and tell them 
that he has accepted Christ. If a call 
is made for those who have decided to 
go forward, have him go forward. If 
opportunity is given for converts to 
testify by spoken word, seek to help him 
to do this. If none of these opportuni- 
ties are immediately available, urge that 
they be improved upon their first oc- 
currence, and especially urge that the 
home confession be not postponed. Im- 
i press upon men of family the necessity 
of a family altar and the blessing at 
their table ; upon wives that they tell 
their husbands, and upon children that 
they tell their parents, of their conver- 
sion. 

25. What is the most common diffi- 
culty in getting men to come to Christ f 

Answer. Lack of conviction of sin 
and an unwillingness to part with sin. 

26. Where we know a man is cling- 
ing to sin and does not feel his wicked- 
ness or his danger, what should be donef 

Answer. Tell him frankly his condi- 
tion and charge him with his sin. I 
once knew of Mr. Moody's saying to a 



26 THE SWORD OF THE EOKD 

man of prominence, whose private life 
and political corruption were a matter 
of scandal, "Your character is known 
to all your neighbors as bad. It is a 
matter of a very few days when one of 
three things will come to pass with you 
—suicide, the State's prison, or repeu- 
tance and conversion to Christ," The 
man was awakened, repented, and has 
for years been an active and exemplary 
Christian. 

CONSECRATION OF WORKERS. 

27. What is the most common lack 
among workers f 

Answer. Lack of faith in the pres- 
ence and power of Jesus to make effec- 
tive his own word, and a consequent 
failure to use that word. 

28. How may this be obtained 1 
Answer. By consecration to Christ 

for service ; definite prayer in the name 
of the Lord Jesus for the enduement of 
the Holy Ghost to qualify for service ; 
with faith, and willingness to receive 
what we pray for. 

29. How can a wwker be most helpful 
to one whom he has led to Christ $ 

Answer. By getting him to read 
and study the Bible daily. It would 
cost but a trifle to have the "Daily 
Scripture Readings" alluded to under 
Question 3 sent to him for a few 
months, or a little effort would get him 
to take them for himself. This, or som e 
similar plan for systematic study of the 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 27 

Bible, is of the highest importance. 
Follow up those you have been made a 
blessing to. You will get much good 
to yourself in doing this, and will do 
much good. Call upon them and help 
tide them over their first difficulties and 
trials, and seek in every way to encour- 
age them to be consecrated, out-and-out 
Christians, working for Christ and 
praying to be filled with the Holy 
Ghost. Write to them and get them 
to write to you and tell you their trials. 
Send them good, helpful books, like Mr. 
Moody's "Way and Wordy" F. B. 
Meyer's or C. H. Spurgeon's helps. See 
that they unite with some body of 
Christians ; get them into Sabbath 
school, rescue mission, Y. M. C. A., 
and cottage prayer-meeting work. The 
first weeks of a young convert's life are 
very important as determining his fu- 
ture usefulness. He is then humble, 
receptive, pliable, anxious to receive in- 
struction, and desirous of doing duty. 
It is impossible to over-emphasize the 
importance of judicious Christian coun- 
sel and loving and tender sympathy at 
this turning-point in the history of the 
soul. Do not consider your work done 
in the eyes of the Master when you 
have got a person to say that he will 
accept Christ, and you have passed in a 
card with his name on it at a meeting 
If the Holy Ghost has really used you, 
you are the one to feel a personal in- 
terest and to take a personal responsibil- 



28 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

ity as to the future of that soul. 
Whatever others may do, don't neglect 
your part. God has given you the op- 
portunity. Improve it. You will have 
a rich reward. ( John 21: 15-17 ; James 
5:19,20; Dan. 12:3.) 

30. Where newly converted men and 
women, or Christians who have been filled 
with the Spirit of God, feel led to devote 
their lives to Christ in special work for 
souls, what would you ad vise f 

Answer. Much prayer for guidance, 
and consultation with their pastor, par- 
ents, and judicious Christian friends 
who know them ; then a month or 
more in one of the Bible training- 
schools before a definite decision is 
made, if the mind is not clear as to the 
Lord's will. Often, by being set to 
work, powers and gifts are tested, ca- 
pacity made known, and adaptation or 
lack of adaptation made manifest. 
Contact with consecrated, Holy Spirit 
men and women, the study of the Bible, 
the atmosphere of the place, the work, 
and the helpful sympathy and prayer, 
will be sure to lead in the right direc- 
tion. If the decision should be to go 
back to the farm, the store, the home, the 
office, there will be the benefit through 
life of what has been gained as to the 
spirit and methods of Christian service. 

31. Should we be governed by the ad- 
vice of others in going into Christian 
work ? 

Answer. Not governed. We must be 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 29 

subject to God's leading, and have his 
call and approval. See Gal. 1 : 15, 16 ; 
Heb. 5 : 4. 

32. Where are these Bible training- 
schools f 

Answer. Those known to the editor 
are, Mr. Moody's Bible Institute, 80 
Institute Place, Chicago, for men and 
women ; Training-School for Chris- 
tian Workers, for women only, fall 
and winter sessions, East Northrield, 
Mass. ; Christian Alliance Missionary 
Tralning-School under care oi Bev. A. 
B. Simpson, corner Eighth Avenue and 
Forty-fourth Street, New York City; 
and Bev. A. J. Gordon's Training- 
School, Clarendon Avenue, Boston, 
Mass. Circulars giving information will 
be sent upon application to any of the 
above addresses. There may be other 
similar institutes known to pastors. 

CHILDREN'S MEETINGS. 

33. How do you deal with children $ 
Answer. As the Master commanded. 

"Surfer the little children to come 
unto me, and forbid them not." 

34. Where and when should we ex- 
pect children to be brought to Christ ? 

Answer. In their own homes, by their 
own parents, as soon as they are able 
to consciously do wrong, and to speak 
the name of Jesus. If parents neglect 
the souls of their children, then pastors, 
teachers, and Sunday-school workers 
must seek their early conversion. 



30 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

35. What suggestions would you make 
as to children's meetings f 

Answer. Hold them frequently. 
Make them a feature of every evangel- 
istic effort. Fix upon an hour just at 
closing of the afternoon session of pub- 
lic schools. Have tickets distributed 
the Sunday before in all the Sabbath 
schools. Have a good deal of singing 
of appropriate hymns. Have a choir 
of the older boys and girls who can 
read music. Have the scholars who 
come from schools seated according to 
grades — primary in front, high school 
in rear; you will be more apt to get 
the older ones in this way. Have short, 
pointed addresses. Use the blackboard, 
or have object lessons, that will teach 
through the eye. A magnet drawing 
nails ; candles ; breaking cups, to show 
how commandments are broken ; turn- 
ing water that has corrosive subli- 
mate in it red and yellow by solution 
of iodide of potassium, to show sin in 
the heart, and turning it clear by 
more of the same solution, to show how 
Christ cleanses the heart, — are among 
some of the various object lessons for 
young people. A little study over com- 
mon objects, such as fruit, flowers, the 
red, white, and blue flag, the signals 
on a railway line, the signals used on 
ships at sea, will bring out a multitude 
of illustrations that will always be 
effective, with old as well as young. 
But whatever is used, have a point in 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 31 

its use. Let it be clear in your own 
mind that you wish to show the chil- 
dren that they are sinners and need 
Jesus, and how they may receive him. 

In after-meetings get boys over twelve 
and girls over twelve into separate 
Tooms, or into different corners of the 
church ; and boys and girls under twelve 
in the same way. This will give you four 
different after-meetings. Have each of 
them in charge of a sympathetic leader, 
and have workers present to talk and 
pray with the children individually. 
Use the Christian Endeavor workers, 
Epworth League workers, and young 
people's society workers, and encourage 
young people's and children's prayer- 
meetings. The most fruitful field of 
labor to-day in the church of Christ is 
among the young. God bless those who 
are cultivating it, in Sunday schools, 
boy brigades, Junior Endeavor so- 
cieties, children's meetings, etc., etc. 
It means study and hard work, and a 
real heart-love for Christ and the chil- 
dren, but if pays to love and teach 
children. 

36. Should children be encouraged to 
join the church ? 

Answer. If they give good evidence 
of conversion, most assuredly. The 
best members that any church has upon 
its rolls are those who were converted 
in childhood. This is the testimony of 
Mr. Spurgeon, Dr. Cuyler, and many 
judicious ministers. 



32 THE SWORD OF THE L.ORD 

LOSS OF SPIRITUAL POWER. 

37. What, in your observation, has 
led to the loss of spiritual power among 
Christian workers f 

Answer. Yielding to lusts of the 
flesh ; love for money ; getting into 
worldly society ; faith in the Bible 
weakened or destroyed by adopting the 
views of unspiritual and materialistic 
critics ; secret prayer and the read- 
ing of the Scriptures neglected; the 
family altar given up ; the prayer-meet- 
ing and the communion table forsaken. 

38. What is the remedy for this f 
Answer. The immediate coming 

back to the Lord Jesus Christ, with 
confession of, and repentance for, dis- 
loyalty and unbelief; the acceptance by 
faith of his forgiveness ; the abandon- 
ment of every known sin and the taking 
up of every known duty, and receiving 
a fresh filling of the Spirit of God. 

39. Will God again make use of one 
who has been a wanderer from him f 

Answer. Yes ; blessed be his name ! 
If it were not so, there would be very 
few that would be used for any length- 
ened period; for, to our shame be it 
spoken, there are very few Christians 
but that have some time backslidden, 
in heart, before God. In Hosea 14 : 2 
we are promised that if we return to 
the Lord he will take away our in- 
iquity and again receive our service. 
Peter was restored after a terrible fall, 
and was mightily used of God. No 



THE SWORD OF THE. LORD 33 

one has ever missed the crown by pick- 
ing himself up and struggling on in a 
fresh beginning. Thousands will miss 
it because they do not do this. 

FORTY BOOKS FOR WORKER'S LIBRARY. 

40. What books have you found the 
most practical and helpful in Bible 
study f 

Answer. As this hand-book is a com- 
pilation of forties, I give a list of forty 
books for a worker's library, the best, 
and in a sense the indispensable ones 
to the writer, of his own library. 

1. Young's Concordance. 

2. Englishman's Greek and Hebrew 
Concordance. 

3. Bagster's Scripture Treasury. 

4. The Revised Version of the Bible. 

5. Matthew Henry's Commentary. 

6. Notes on Genesis, Exodus, Leviti- 
cus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. By 
C. H. M. 

7. The People's Bible. Joseph Parker. 

8. The Treasury of David. C. H. 
Spurgeon. 

9. Lectures to My Students. C. H. 
Spurgeon. 

10. Sermons. C. H. Spurgeon. 

11. Jamie son, Fausset & Brown's 
Commentary. 

12. John Trapp's Commentary. 

13. Robert Haldane on Romans. 

14. Thomas Chalmers on Romans. 

15. Prof. Moule, of Cambridge, on 
Romans. 



34 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

16. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. 

17. John Bunyan's Holy War. 

18. Lectures on Romans. Marcus 
Eainsford. 

19. William Lincoln on Revelation. 

20. Maranatha. Rev. Jas. H. Brookes. 

21. The Way Made Plain. Rev. Jas. 
H. Brookes. 

22. In Christ. Rev. A. J. Gordon. 

23. Modern Missions. Rev. A. T. 
Pierson. 

24. The Tabernacle of Moses. Geo. 
Rogers or Geo. C. Needham. 

25. Grace and Truth. McKay. 

26. Finney's Revival Lectures. 

27. Finney's Autobiography. 

28. How to Bring Men to Christ. 
Torrey. 

29. John G. Paton : His Life in the 
New Hebrides. 

30. Moody's Twelve Selected Ser- 
mons. 

31. Exposition of Hebrews. F. B. 
Meyer. 

32. D'Aubigne on the Reformation. 

33. Dr. Hodge on Romans. 

34. Martin Luther on Galatians. 

35. The Tongue of Fire. William 
Arthur. 

36. Smith's Bible Dictionary. 

37. Kitto's Bible Encyclopedia. 

38. The Ministry of the Spirit. Rev. 
A. J. Gordon. 

39. Life and Times of John Wesley. 

40. Andrew Bonar's Life of Mc- 
Cheyne. 



METHODS OF DOING GOOD. 



"To do good and to communicate 
forget not." (Heb. 13 : 16.) 

"As we have therefore opportunity let 
us do good unto all men, especially unto 
them who are of the household of faith. ' ' 
(Gal. 6: 10.) 

" Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as 
to the Lord, and not unto men ; . . . 
for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Col. 
3:23,24.) 

" And let us not be weary in well-do- 
ing : for in due season we shall reap, if 
we faint not." (Gal. 6:9.) 

" I can do all things through Christ, 
which strengthened ine." (Phil. 3: 13.) 

QUESTIONS. 

"Why stand ye here all the day 
idle?" (Matt. 20:6.) 

1. If living in the country, far from 
churches, could you not start a Sunday 
school, and gather children and grown 
people together for the study of the 
Bible? Write to Secretary American 
Sunday-School Union, Chicago, St. 
Louis, or Philadelphia, or to your de- 
nominational society, and tell him of 
your field, and he will send you in- 
structions and give you books and pa- 
pers to help you start the work. 
35 



36 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

2. Is there not some neglected quar- 
ter in the city or town in which you live 
where a mission school could be started t 
Children are easily gathered, if we have 
the love of Christ in our hearts to draw 
them, and there is no way so easy to 
reach the hearts of parents as to show 
kindness to the children. Can you not 
devote a couple of hours, Sunday after- 
noons, to this work ? Let it commence 
in a small way, in the front room of a 
house, a vacant store, a railway car, or 
any place that can be secured. Plant 
your seed in the spirit of prayer and it 
will grow. 

3. If you are a Christian woman with 
time on your hands, could you not give 
a couple of hours every day to conduct- 
ing a Christian kindergarten school for 
the very small children, too young to go 
to "public school, and who have to be left 
by busy hard-working mothers to run 
the streets ? Many mothers are very igno- 
rant, and can give no instruction or 
training to their children. Can you not 
try to help them'? Did not Christ take 
"them up in his arms, put his hands 
upon them, and bless them"? (Mark 
10: 16.) Will you not try to lift them 
into his arms ? Hundreds of Christian 
women are finding much blessing in 
humble efforts of this kind in destitute 
neighborhoods, among the poor chil- 
dren. A small school, in a room in a 
house, where truth about Christ is the 
prominent thing and where the chil- 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 37 

dren are taught to pray, is far better 
than the larger schools where Christian 
instruction is ignored or minimized. 
Do not despise the day of small things. 
Take a few children and commence in 
a quiet way. Books upon methods of 
kindergarten teaching could be obtained 
by writing to the publishers of this book. 

4. Are you doing anything in the way 
of giving away, loaning, or getting your 
neighbors to buy good books t Hundreds 
of souls are led to Christ by reading ser- 
mons by Spurgeon, Moody, and others. 
Could you not have cheap copies of 
these and put them in circulation in 
your neighborhood? For one dollar 
you can get half a dozen good books, 
that could do incalculable good by be- 
ing put in families around you. Most 
of the church publication societies were 
organized to spread the gospel in this 
way. Send to them for their catalogue, 
and for special terms to circulators and 
helpers. 1 

5. Could you not staH a neighborhood 
prayer-meeting in your own vicinity, or 
in some quarter where it would do most 
good f The early Christians went from 
" house to house" with their meetings, 
and the Holy Ghost seems to specially 
delight in manifesting his presence in 
the homes of God's people. Can you 

1 Moody's Colportage Society, 250 La Salle 
Street, Chicago, Illinois, also is organized to 
assist in the distribution of good literature 
at a low price. 



38 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

not give one evening a week to this, in 
addition to the weekly church prayer- 
meeting? Many timid believers will 
be led to pray and testify for Christ 
who never take part in the more formal 
church prayer-meetings. God is greatly 
blessing such gatherings just now, in 
cities and in the country places. It is 
the simplest and by far the most effec- 
tive way of doing good and bringing 
blessing upon a community that can 
be followed. Will you not try it ? 

6. Could you not, if a lady in the city 
or large town, with a comfortable house 
at your disposal, have occasional after- 
noon or evening Bible readings in your 
drawing-room^ Send out your invita- 
tion cards; have a minister or gifted 
teacher, man or woman ; have a sweet- 
voiced Christian girl to lead the singing ; 
pass tea and light refreshments, if you 
like, and make it so pleasant that all will 
want to come again. Why should we 
not make more use of our social posi- 
tion and our social gatherings to do 
good and advance Christ's kingdom ? 
Watch for opportunities to secure re- 
turned missionaries, city mission work- 
ers, and those who are used of the Holy 
Ghost in any form of Christ's work, and 
get up drawing-room meetings for them. 

7. Could you not give Saturday after- 
noon lawn teas and social Christian 
meetings to shop girls and young wo- 
men in business houses, during the sum- 
mer months t If you have a beautiful 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 39 

garden, or can get the use of some one 
else's beautiful garden, God will bless 
you in an effort of this kind. Have an 
organ and plenty of hymn books. Sing 
a great deal. Have a bright, short, lov- 
ing talk given, and do a good deal of 
personal work. 

8. Could you not start a Bible class 
for young men or for young women, to 
meet on Sunday afternoon or upon a 
week evening f Organize. Have presi- 
dent and secretary. Make use of the 
social element. Show an interest in 
your members. Have them at your 
house often. Plan excursions on their 
holidays. Throw yourself into their 
lives and win them for God. 

9. Jf in the country, could you not 
have Sunday evening gospel meetings 
started in the nearest school-house f Get 
a few hymn books ; borrow the use of a 
neighbor's organising a good deal, and 
read one of Spurgeon's or Moody's ser- 
mons. Hundreds of women and some 
men are being used of God in farming 
communities, mining camps, and lum- 
ber settlements, in this way. Though 
you are a man, and there is no woman 
to take hold of it, do not be timid, but 
go ahead and make a start, and God 
will bless you. 

10. Do you remember that Jesus said, 
" Iivas sick and ye visited me: I was in 
prison, and ye came unto me 11 '? Are 
there not hospitals and prisons in your 
city or town? Could you not devote a 



40 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

couple of hours each week to 
their inmates 1 In the summer take 
them flowers, and carry them books and 
papers. You will form personal ac- 
quaintances and become personally at- 
tached to those whose lives will be 
changed by your having come in con- 
tact with them. Give prisoners Testa- 
ments, with marked passages, and give 
them Moody' s sermons. Read the Bible 
to the sick and to the prisoner, and pray 
with them. 

11. Could you not have one or more 
days in the week when you could go 
out and visit the sick, the poor, or the 
afflicted in their homes? "Ye have 
the poor with you always, and whenso- 
ever ye will ye may do them good." 
But how little good we ever do in this 
way, because we do not systematically 
set about doing it. 

12. There are organized efforts and 
trained agents for almost every class of 
men and women, boys and girls. Young 
Men's and Young Women's Christian 
Associations, young people's societies of 
various names, both denominational 
and interdenominational, organized in 
about every church in city, village, 
and country, Railway Men's Christian 
Associations, King's Daughters, King's 
Sons, Rescue Mission Workers, Boys' 
Brigades, Shut-In Societies, Yokefel- 
lows, Philip and Andrew Bands, Pray- 
ing Bands, etc., etc. If you want to 
work, the fields are white for the harvest 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 41 

on every hand. Pray to the Lord of the 
harvest to show you the work for which 
you are best adapted. 1 Ask God in 
believing prayer for the Holy Spirit, 
and go to the work, which you believe 
God has appointed for you, with faith 
that the Holy Ghost will be with you. 

* Write John C. Collins, Secretary Christian 
Workers' 1 Association, New Haven, Conn., as to 
the work you want to do, or the association 
you want to organize, and ask him for in- 
formation as to what others have done and 
for advice as to methods, etc. He will send 
you pamphlets, constitutions of societies, etc. 



FORTY QUESTIONS ANSWERED 
FROM THE WORD OF GOD. 



1. How may I know that there is a 
God? 

And the Word was made flesh, and 
dwelt among us, (and we beheld his 
glory, the glory as of the only begotten 
of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 
. . . No man hath seen God at any 
time ; the only begotten Son, which is 
in the bosom of the Father, he hath 
declared him. (John 1: 14, 18.) 

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, be- 
cause thou hast seen me, thou hast be- 
lieved : blessed are they that have not 
seen, and yet have believed. And 
many other signs truly did Jesus in the 
presence of his disciples, which are not 
written in this book : but these are 
written, that ye might believe that 
Jesns is the Christ, the Son of God ; and 
that believing ye might have life 
through his name. (John 20 : 29-31 . ) 

For the invisible things of him from 
the creation of the world are clearly 
seen, being understood by the things 
that are made, even his eternal power 
and Godhead ; so that they are without 
excuse. (Rom. 1: 20.) 
42 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 43 

2. How can I know that the Bible is 
true? 

Search the Scriptures; for in them 
ye think ye have eternal life : and 
they are they which testify of me. And 
ye will not come to me, that ye might 
have life. (John 5: 39, 40.) 

If any man will do his will, he shall 
know of the doctrine, whether it be of 
God, or whether I speak of myself. 
(John 7: 17.) 

These were more noble than those in 
Thessalonica, in that they received the 
word with all readiness of mind, and 
searched the Scriptures daily, whether 
those things were so. Therefore many 
of them believed ; also of honourable 
women which were Greeks, and of men, 
not a few. (Acts 17: 11, 12.) 

3. How can I understand the Bible? 
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, 

is come, he will guide you into all truth : 
for he shall not speak of himself ; but 
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he 
speak : and he will show you things to 
come. (John 16 : 13.) 

If ye then, being evil, know how to 
give good gifts unto your children: 
how much more shall your Heavenly 
Father give the Holy Spirit to them 
that ask him ? (Luke 11 : 13.) 

4. If a man does the best he can, will 
he not go to heaven ? 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, Except a man be born of 
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter 



44 THE SWORD OF THE EORD 

into the kingdom of God. That which 
is born of the flesh is flesh ; and that 1 
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. . . . 
He that believeth on the Son hath ever- 
lasting life : and he that believeth not 
the Son shall not see life ; but the wrath 
of God abideth on him. (John 3:5, 6, 
36.) 

Now we know that what things soever 
the law saith, it saith to them who are 
under the law ; that every mouth may 
be stopped, and all the world may be- 
come guilty before God. Therefore by 
the deeds of the law there shall no flesh 
be justified in his sight : for by the law 
is the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3 : 19, 20. ) I 

For as many as are of the works of \ 
the law are under the curse : for it is 
written, Cursed is eveiy one that con- I 
tinueth not in all things which are 
written in the book of the law to do 
them. (Gal. 3:10. ) 

5. If a man honestly thinks he is on 
the right road, will he be condemned ® 

There is a way which seemeth right 
unto a man ; but the end thereof are 
the ways of death. (Prov. 14: 12.) 

For what if some did not believe ? 
shall their unbelief make the faith of 
God without effect ? God forbid ; yea, 
let God be true, but every man a liar ; 
as it is written, that thou mightest be 
justified in thy sayings, and mightest 
overcome when thou art judged. (Rom. 
3:3,4.) 

And the times of this ignorance God 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 45 

winked at; but now commandeth all 
men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17: 30.) 

6. Can't a man be a Christian with- 
out believing that Christ was the Son of 
God? 

If we receive the witness of men, the 
witness of God is greater : for this is 
the witness of God which he hath testi- 
fied of his Son. He that believeth on 
the Son of God hath the witness in 
himself: he that believeth not God 
hath made him a liar ; because he be- 
lieveth not the record that God gave of 
his Son. And this is the record, that 
God hath given to us eternal life, and this 
life is in his Son. He that hath the Son 
hath life; and he that hath not the 
Son of God hath not life. These things 
have I written unto you that believe on 
the name of the Son of God, that ye 
may know that ye have eternal life, 
and that ye may believe on the name 
of the Son of God. . . . And we know 
that the Son of God is come, and hath 
?iven us an understanding, that we 
may know him that is true ; and we 
ire in him that is true, even in his Son 
Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and 
3ternal life. (I. John 5 : 9-13, 20.) 

. Why was the death of Christ 
needed to save man f 

For what the law could not do, in 
:hat it was weak through the flesh, God, 
sending his own Son in the likeness of 
sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin 
Ji the flesh. (Rom. 8:3.) 



46 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

Wherefore, as by one man sin en- 
tered into the world, and death by sin ; 
and so death passed upon all men, for 
that all have sinned. . . . For as by 
one man's disobedience many were 
made sinners ; so by the obedience of 
one shall many be made righteous. 
(Rom. 5: 12, 19.) 

8. What is the first thing to do in be- 
coming a Christian f 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest. (Matt. 11:28.) 

Jesus answered and said unto them, 
This is the work of God, that ye believe 
on him whom he hath sent. . . . All 
that the Father giveth me shall come 
to me : and him that cometh to me I 
will in nowise cast out. (John 6:29, 
37.) 

And they said, Believe on the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, 
and thy house. (Acts 16: 31.) 

9. What is the next thing 1 
Whosoever therefore shall confess me 

before men, him will I confess also be- 
fore my Father which is in heaven. 
(Matt. 10:32.) 

That if thou shalt confess with thy 
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt be- 
lieve in thine heart that God hath raised 
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
For with the heart man believeth unto 
righteousness; and with the mouth con- 
fession is made unto salvation. For 
the Scripture saith, Whosoever be J 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 47 

lieveth on him shall not be ashamed. 
(Rom. 10:9-11.) 

10. Must I not feel my sins before I 
can come to Christ f Hoio can I do this f 

Was then that which is good made 
death unto me ? God forbid. But sin, 
that it might appear sin, working death 
in me by that which is good ; that sin 
by the commandment might become 
exceeding sinful. (Rom. 7: 13. ) 

And when he is come, he will re- 
prove the world of sin, and of right- 
eousness, and of judgment: of sin, be- 
cause they believe not on me. (John 
16:8, 9.) 

Therefore let all the house of Israel 
know assuredly, that God hath made 
that same Jesus, whom ye have cruci- 
fied, both Lord and Christ. Now when 
they heard this, they were pricked in 
their heart, and said unto Peter and to 
the rest of the apostles, Men and breth- 
ren, what shall we do ? (Acts 2: 36, 37.) 

11. Must I not repent? What is re- 
pentance ? How can I repen t f 

And said unto them, Thus it is writ- 
ten, and thus it behoved Christ to suf- 
fer, and to rise from the dead the third 
day : and that repentance and remis- 
sion of sins should be preached in his 
name among all nations, beginning at 
Jerusalem. (Luke 24: 46, 47.) 

The God of our fathers raised up 
Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a 
tree. Him hath God exalted With his 
right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, 



48 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

for to give repentance to Israel, and for- 
giveness of sins. (Acts 5: 30, 31.) 

Testifying both to the Jews, and also 
to the Greeks, repentance toward God, 
and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 
(Acts 20: 21.) 

And when he came to himself, he said, 
How niany hired servants of my 
father's have bread enough, and to 
spare, and I perish with hunger ! I 
will arise and go to my father, and will 
say unto him, Father, I have sinned 
against Heaven, and before thee. (Luke 
15:17, 18.) 

12. How do I come to Christ? 

Let the wicked forsake his way, and 
the unrighteous man his thoughts : and 
let him return unto the Lord, and he 
will have mercy upon him ; and to our 
God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
(Isa. 55: 7.) 

That which was from the beginning, 
which we have heard, which we have 
seen with our eyes, which we have 
looked upon, and our hands have 
handled, "of the Word of life ; (for the 
life was manifested, and we have seen it, 
and bear witness, and show unto you 
that eternal life which was with the 
Father, and was manifested unto us ; ) 
that which we have seen and heard de- 
clare we unto you, that ye also may have 
fellowship with us : and truly our fel- 
lowship is with the Father, and with 
his Son Jesus Christ. (I. John 1 : 1-3.) 

And Jesus stood still, and commanded 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 49 

him to be called. And they call the 
blind man, saying unto him, Be of good 
comfort, rise ; he calleth thee. And he, 
casting away his garment, rose, and 
came to Jesus. (Mark 10: 49, 50.) 

13. What is it to accept of Christ® 
He came unto his own, and his own 

received him not. But as many as re- 
ceived him, to them gave he power to 
become the sons of God, even to them 
that believe on his name. (John 1: 11, 
12.) 

For the wages of sin is death ; but the 
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6 : 23.) 

For by grace are ye saved through 
faith ; and that not of yourselves ; it is 
the gift of God. (Eph. 2 : 8.) 

14. How may I get faith? 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and 
hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 
10:17.) 

That we should be to the praise of his 
glory, who first trusted in Christ. In 
whom ye also trusted, after that ye 
heard the word of truth, the gospel of 
your salvation : in whom also, after that 
ye believed, ye were sealed with that 
Holy Spirit of promise. (Eph. 1 : 12, 13.) 

Search the Scriptures ; for in them ye 
think ye have eternal life : and they are 
they which testify of me. . . . For had 
ye believed Moses, ye would have be- 
lieved me : for he wrote of me. But if 
ye believe not his writings, how shall ye 
believe my words ? (John 5: 39, 46, 47.) 



50 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

15. How can I know that my sins are 
forgiven f | 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said 1 
unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins 
be forgiven thee. (Mark 2: 5.) 

And he said unto her, Thy sins are for- 
given. And they that sat at meat with 
him began to say within themselves, 
Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 
And he said to the woman, Thy faith 
hath saved thee ; go in peace. (Luke i 
7:48-50.) . 

Be it known unto you therefore, men 
and brethren, that through this man 
is preached unto you the forgiveness of 
sins: and by him all that believe are 
justified from all things, from which ye 
could not be justified by the law of 
Moses. (Acts 13: 38, 39.) 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful 
and just to forgive us our sins, and to 
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (If 
John 1:9.) 

16. How can I feel that I love God? 
Herein is love, not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us, and sent his Son to 
be the propitiation for our sins. . . . We 
love him, because he first loved us. (I. 
John 4: 10, 19.) 

And hope maketh not ashamed; be- 
cause the love of God is shed abroad in 
our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which isi 
given unto us. For when we were yet | 
without strength, in due time Christ 
died for the ungodly. For scarcely forj 
a righteous man will one die : yet per- 1 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 51 

adventure for a good man some would 
even dare to die. But God cornmendeth 
(his love toward us, in that, while we 
were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
(Rom. 5:5-8.) 

17. Why ivill not the Lord show him- 
self to me, and speak to me as he did to 
Paul? 

Howbeit for this cause I obtained 
mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ 
might show forth all long-suffering, for 
a pattern to them which should here- 
after believe on him to life everlasting. 
(I. Tim. 1:16.) 

Neither pray I for these alone, but for 
them also which shall believe on me 
through their word. (John 17: 20.) 

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because 
thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: 
blessed are they that have not seen, and 
yet have believed. (John 20: 29.) 

And I will pray the Father, and he 
shall give you another Comforter, that 
he may abide with you forever ; even 
the Spirit of truth; whom the world 
cannot receive, because it seeth him 
not, neither knoweth him: but ye 
know him ; for he dwelleth with you, 
and shall be in you. I will not leave 
you comfortless: I will come to you. 
(John 14: 16-18.) 

18. How may I know that the Spirit 
of God has come to me f 

And when he is come, he will reprove 
the w r orld of sin, and of righteousness, 
and of judgment. (John 16: 8.) 



52 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

Wherefore I give you to understand, 
that no man speaking by the Spirit of 
God calleth Jesus accursed; and that 
no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, 
but by the Holy Ghost, (I. Cor. 12: 3,1 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, 
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, 
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance : 
against such there is no law. (Gal. 
5: 22, 23.) 

We know that we have passed from 
death unto life, because we love the 
brethren. He that loveth not his 
brother abideth in death. (I. John 
3:14.) 

19. Why do church members do 
wrong® 

For many walk, of whom I have 
told you often, and now tell you even 
weeping, that they are the enemies of the 
cross of Christ : whose end is destruc- 
tion, whose God is their belly, and 
whose glory is in their shame, who 
mind earthly things. (Phil. 3: 18, 19.) 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, 
that in the latter times some shall de- 
part from the faith, giving heed to se- 
ducing spirits, and doctrines of devils ; 
speaking lies in hypocrisy ; having their 
conscience seared with a hot iron. 
(I, Tim. 4: 1, 2.) 

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, 
and the Spirit against the flesh : and 
these are contrary the one to the other; 
so that ye cannot do the things that ye 
would. (Gal. 5: 17.) 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 53 

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a 
fault, ye which are spiritual restore such 
an one in the spirit of meekness ; con- 
sidering thyself, lest thou also be 
tempted. (Gal. 6:1.) 

20. Why are there so many different 
churches® 

And I, brethren, could not speak unto 
you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, 
even as unto babes in Christ. I have 
fed you with milk, and not with meat : 
for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, 
neither yet now are ye able. For ye 
are yet carnal : for whereas there is 
among you envying, and strife, and 
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk 
as men? For while one saith, I am 
of Paul ; and another, I am of Apollos ; 
are ye not carnal ? Who then is Paul, 
and who is Apollos, but ministers by 
whom ye believed, even as the Lord 
gave to every man ? (I. Cor. 3:1-5.) 

For as the body is one, and hath many 
members, and all the members of that 
one body, being many, are one body ; so 
also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we 
all baptized into one body, whether we 
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond 
or free ; and have been all made to drink 
into one Spirit. For the body is not one 
member, but many. (I. Cor. 12: 12-14.) 

Yet in the church I had rather speak 
five words with my understanding, that 
by my voice I might teach others also, 
than ten thousand words in an un- 
known tongue. (I. Cor. 14: 19.) 



54 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

21. Must I join the church to be a\ 
Christian f 

And Jesus came and spake unto theni, 
saying, All power is given unto me in 
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching them 
to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you ; and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the 
world. Amen. (Matt. 28: 18-20.) 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, 
and be baptized every one of you in the 
name of Jesus Christ, for the remission 
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of 
the Holy Ghost. For the promise is 
unto you, and to your children, and to 
all that are afar off, even as many as 
the Lord our God shall call. And with 
many other words did he testify and ex- 
hort, saying, Save yourselves from this 
untoward generation. Then they that 
gladly received his word were baptized : 
and the same day there were added unto 
them about three thousand souls. And 
they continued stedfastly in the apos- 
tles' doctrine and fellowship, and in j 
breaking of bread, and in prayers. . . 
praising God and having favor with all 
the people. And the Lord added to the 
church daily such as should be saved. 
(Acts 2: 38-42, 47.) 

22. Are dancing, card-playing, and 
theater-going wrong for Christians? 

Love not the world, neither the 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 55 

things, that are in the world. If any 
man love the world, the love of the 
Father is not in him. For all that is 
in the world, the lust of the flesh, and 
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of 
life, is not of the Father, but is of the 
world. And the world passeth away, 
and the lust thereof: but he that doeth 
the will of God abideth forever. (I. 
John 2: 15-17.) 

I have given them thy word; and the 
world hath hated them, because they 
are not of the world, even as I am not 
of the world. I pray not that thou 
shouldest take them out of the world, 
but that thou shouldest keep them from 
the evil. They are not of the world, 
even as I am not of the world. Sanctify 
them through thy truth : thy word is 
truth. As thou hast sent me into the 
world, even so have I also sent them 
into the world. And for their sakes I 
sanctify myself, that they also might be 
sanctified through the truth. (John 
17:14-19.) 
23. How shall I overcome the world $ 
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek 
those things which are above, where 
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 
Set your affection on things above, not 
on things on the earth. For ye are 
dead, and your life is hid with Christ 
in God. When Christ, who is our life, 
shall appear, then shall ye also appear 
with him in glory. Mortify therefore 
your members which are upon the earth ; 



56 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

fornication, uncleanness, inordinate af- 
fection, evil concupiscence, and eovet- 
ousness, which is idolatry : for which 
things' sake the wrath of God cometh 
on the children of disobedience. (Col. 
3:1-6.) 

For whatsoever is born of God over- 
cometh the world : and this is the vic- 
tory that overcometh the world, even 
our faith. Who is he that overcometh 
the world, but he that believeth that 
Jesus is the Son of God? (I. John 
5:4,5.) 

24. Why do good Christians have so 
much trouble in the world® 

But when we are judged, we are 
chastened of the Lord, that we should 
not be condemned with the world. (I. 
Cor. 11:32.) 

Blessed is the man whom thou chas- 
tenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of 
thy law; that thou mayest give him 
rest from the days of adversity, until 
the pit be digged for the wicked. (Ps. 
94: 12, 13.) 

For whom the Lord loveth he chas- 
teneth, and scourgeth every son whom 
he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, 
God dealeth with you as with sons ; for 
what son is he whom the father chas- 
teneth not? But if ye be without 
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, 
then are ye bastards, and not sons. 
Furthermore, we have had fathers of 
our flesh, which corrected us, and we 
gave them reverence : shall we not much 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 57 

rather be in subjection unto the Father 
of spirits and live ? _ For they verily for 
a few days chastened us after their own 
pleasure ; but he for our profit, that we 
might be partakers of his holiness. Now 
no chastening for the present seemeth 
to be joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless, 
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit 
of righteousness unto them which are 
exercised thereby. ( Heb . 12:6-11.) 

25. How shall I find deliverance from, 
the power of sin that I have practiced ? 

Knowing that Christ, being raised 
from the dead, dieth no more; death 
hath no more dominion over him. For 
in that he died, he died imto sin once : 
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto 
God. Likewise reckon ye also your- 
selves to be dead indeed unto sin, but 
alive unto God through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign 
in your mortal body, that ye should 
obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither 
yield ye your members as instruments 
of unrighteousness unto sin : but yield 
yourselves unto God, as those that are 
alive from the dead, and your mem- 
bers as instruments of righteousness 
unto God. For sin shall not have do- 
minion over you : for ye are not under 
the law, but under grace. (Rom. 6: 
9-14.) 

Wherefore take unto you the whole 
armour of God, that ye may be able to 
withstand in the evil day, and having 
done all, to stand. Stand therefore, 



58 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

having your loins girt about with truth, 
and having on the breastplate of right- 
eousness ; and your feet shod with the 
preparation of the gospel of peace; 
above all, taking the shield of faith, 
wherewith ye shall be able to quench 
all the fiery darts of the wicked. And 
take the helmet of salvation, and the 
sword of the Spirit, which is the word 
of God : praying always with all prayer 
and supplication in the Spirit, and 
watching thereunto with all persever- 
ance and supplication for all saints. 
(Eph. 6: 13-18.) 

26. If I sin after I become a Chris- 
tian will God forgive me® 

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and make not provision for the flesh, 
to fulfill the lusts thereof. (Rom. 13: 14.) 

My little children, these things write 
I unto you, that ye sin not. And if 
any man sin, we have an advocate with 
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : 
and he is the propitiation for our sins ; 
and not for ours only, but also for the 
sins of the whole world. (I. John 2: 
1,2.) 

Seeing then that we have a great High 
Priest, that is passed into the heavens, 
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast 
our profession. For we have not an high 
priest which cannot be touched with 
the feeling of our infirmities ; but was 
in all points tempted like as we are, yet 
without sin. Let us therefore come 
boldly unto the throne of grace, that 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 59 

we may obtain mercy, and find grace to 
help in time of need. (Heb. 4: 14-16.) 

27. What is the sin against the Holy 
Ghost f 

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall 
be forgiven unto the sons of men, and 
blasphemies wherewith soever they 
shall blaspheme; but he that shall 
blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath 
never forgiveness, but is in danger of 
eternal damnation : because they said, 
He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 
3: 28-30.) 

He that despised Moses' law died 
without mercy under two or three wit- 
nesses : of how much sorer punishment, 
suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, 
who hath trodden under foot the Son of 
God, and hath counted the blood of the 
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, 
an unholy thing, and hath done despite 
unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10: 28, 
29.) 

28. How will I know that I am one 
of the elect f 

For God so loved the world, that he 
gave his only begotten Son, that whoso- 
ever believeth in him should not perish, 
but have everlasting life. (John 3: 16.) 

All that the Father giveth me shall 
come to me : and him that cometh to 
me I will in no wise cast out. • (John 
6:37.) 

I am the door : by me if any man en- 
ter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in 
and out, and find pasture. (John 10 : 9. ) 



60 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

And the Spirit and the bride say, 
Come. And let him that heareth say, 
Come. And let him that is athirst 
come. And whosoever will, let him 
take the water of life freely. (Rev. 
22:17.) 

29. Must I forgive my enemies in be- 
coming a Christian 9 

Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to 
the altar, and there rememberest that 
thy brother hath ought against thee j 
leave there thy gift before the altar, and 
go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy 
brother, and then come and offer thy 
gift. (Matt. 5:23, 24.) 

Therefore all things whatsoever ye 
would that men should do to you, do 
ye even so to them : for this is the Law 
and the Prophets. . . . For if ye forgive 
men their trespasses, your Heavenly 
Father will also forgive you : but if ye 
forgive not men their trespasses, neither 
will your Father forgive your trespasses. 
(Matt. 7: 12; 6:14, 15.) 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and 
anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, 
be put away from you, with all malice: 
and be ye kind one to another, tender- 
hearted, forgiving one another, even as 
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 
(Eph. 4:31, 32.) 

30. Must I make restitution f 

And the second is like, namely this, 
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy- 
self. There is none other commandment 
greater than these. (Mark 12 : 31.) 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 61 

Recompense to no man evil for evil. 
Provide things honest in the sight of all 
men. (Rom. 12:17.) 

And Zacchseus stood, and said unto 
the Lord ; Behold, Lord, the half of my 
goods I give to the poor ; and if I have 
taken any thing from any man by false 
accusation, I restore him fourfold. 
(Luke 19: 8.) 

31 . Must I not wait until I under- 
stand the Bible better before I become a 
Christian f 

But when they believed Philip preach- 
ing the things concerning the kingdom 
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, 
they were baptized, both men and wo- 
men. . . . Then Philip opened his 
mouth, and began at the same scrip- 
ture, and preached unto him Jesus. 
And as they went on their way, they 
came unto a certain water; and the 
eunuch said, See, here is water; what 
doth hinder me to be baptized? And 
Philip said, If thou believest with all 
thine heart, thou mayest. And he an- 
swered and said, I believe that Jesus 
Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8 : 12, 
35-37.) 

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, 
what must I do to be saved ? And they 
said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 
And they spake unto him the word of 
the Lord, and to all that were in his 
house. And he took them the same 
hour of the night, and washed their 



62 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

stripes ; and was baptized, he and all 
his, straightway. ( Acts 16 : 30-33.) 

32. Must I not become a better man 
before I become a Christian f 

But when Jesus heard that, he said 
unto them, They that be whole need 
not a physician, but they that are sick. 
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, 
I will have mercy, and not sacrifice : for 
I am not come to call the righteous, 
but sinners to repentance. (Matt. 9: 12, 
13.) 

But I see another law in my mem- 
bers, warring against the law of my 
mind, and bringing me into captivity 
to the law of sin which is in my mem- 
bers. O wretched man that I am ! who 
shall deliver me from the body of this 
death? I thank God through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. So then with the 
mind I myself serve the law of God, 
but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom. 
7:23-25.) 

Knowing that a man is not justified 
by the works of the law, but^ by the 
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have be- 
lieved in Jesus Christ, that we might 
be justified by the faith of Christ, and 
not by the works of the law : for by the 
works of the law shall no flesh be justi- 
fied. (Gal. 2:16.) 

33. When I try to pray it seems un- 
real to me. How can I overcome this 9 

And it came to pass, that, as he was 
praying in a certain place, when he 
ceased, one of his disciples said unto 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 63 

him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John 
also taught his disciples. And he said 
unto them, When ye pray, say, Our 
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed 
be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy 
will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 
Give us day by day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins : for we also for- 
give every one that is indebted to us. 
And lead us not into temptation ; but 
deliver us from evil. (Luke 11 : 1-4. ) 

No man hath seen God at any time ; 
the only begotten Son, which is in the 
bosom of the Father, he hath declared 
him. (John 1:18.) 

I have manifested thy name unto the 
men which thou gavest me out of the 
world : thine they were, and thou 
gavest them me; and they have kept 
thy word. . . . O righteous Father, the 
world hath not known thee : but I have 
known thee, and these have known 
that thou hast sent me. And I have 
declared unto them thy name, and will 
declare it ; that the love wherewith thou 
hast loved me may be in them, and I 
in them. (John 17:6, 25, 26.) 

34. Are you sure so great a sinner as 
lam can be saved f 

Seek ye the Lord while he may be 
found, call ye upon him while he is 
near : let the wicked forsake his way, 
and the unrighteous man his thoughts : 
and let him return unto the Lord, and 
he will have mercy upon him ; and to 
our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 



64 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
neither are your ways my ways, saith 
the Lord. For as the heavens are higher 
than the earth, so are my ways higher 
than your ways, and my thoughts than 
your thoughts. ( Isa. 55 : 6-9. ) 

This is a faithful saying, and worthy 
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
came into the world to save sinners ; of 
whom I am chief. Howbeit for this 
cause I obtained mercy, that in me 
first Jesus Christ might show forth all 
long-suffering, for a pattern to them 
which should hereafter believe on him 
to life everlasting. (I. Tim. 1 : 15, 16.) 
35. Should I make any start to con- 
fess that I want to be a Christian while 
I have no feeling f 

And, behold, there was a man which 
had his hand withered. And they asked 
him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the 
sabbath days? that they might accuse 
him. And he said unto them, What 
man shall there be among you that 
shall have one sheep, and if it fall into 
a pit on the sabbath day, will he not 
lay hold on it, and lift it out? How 
much then is a man better than a sheep ? 
Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the 
sabbath days. Then saith he to the 
man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he 
stretched it forth; and it was restored 
whole, like as the other. ( Matt. 12 : 10-13. ) 
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his 
great love wherewith he loved us, even 
when we were dead in sins, hath quick- 



THE SWORD OF THE EORD 65 

ened us together with Christ, ( by grace ye 
are saved ; ) and hath raised us up togeth- 
er, and made us sit together in heavenly 
places in Christ Jesus. ( Eph. 2 : 4-6, ) 

36. What is the greatest sin f 

He that believeth on the Son of God 
hath the witness in himself; he that be- 
lieveth not God hath made him a liar ; 
because he believeth not the record that 
God gave of his Son. (I. John 5 : 10. ) 

And ye have not his word abiding in 
you : for whom he hath sent, him ye 
believe not. (John 5 : 38.) 

God is not a man, that he should lie ; 
neither the son of man, that he should 
repent : hath he said, and shall he not do 
it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not 
make it good ? | Num. 23 : 19.) 

37. If I become a Christian what 
ought I to seek for most earnestly? 

And I will pray the Father and he shall 
give you another Comforter, that he 
may abide with you forever ; even the 
Spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot 
receive because it seeth him not, neither 
knoweth him : but ye know him, for he 
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 
I will not leave you comfortless : I will 
come to you. (John 14: 16-18.) 

And when he had said this, he breath- 
ed on them, and saith unto them, Re- 
ceive ye the Holy Ghost. ( John 20 : 22.) 

But ye shall receive power, after that 
the Holy Ghost is come upon you : and 
ye shall be witnesses unto me both in 
Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Sa- 



bb THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

maria, and unto the uttermost part of 
the earth. (Actsl:8.) 

38. What luill be my greatest diffi- 
culty in the Christian life? 

Let nothing be done through strife or 
vainglory ; but in lowliness of mind let 
each esteem other better than them- 
selves. Look not every man on his 
own things, but every man also on the 
things of others. Let this mind be in 
you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 
(Phil. 2:3-5.) 

For I say, through the grace given 
unto me, to every man that is .among 
you, not to think of himself more high- 
ly than he ought to think ; but to think 
soberly, according as God hath dealt to 
every man the measure of faith. Be of 
the same mind one toward another. 
Mind not high things, but condescend 
to men of low estate. (Rom. 12 : 3, 16.) 

So after he had washed their feet, and 
had taken his garments and w T as set 
down again, he said unto them, Know 
ye what I have done to you ? Ye call 
me Master and Lord : and ye say well ; 
for so I am. If I then, your Lord and 
Master, have washed your feet, ye also 
ought to wash one another's feet. For 
I have given you an example, that ye 
should do as I have done to you. Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, The servant is 
not greater than his lord ; neither he 
that is sent greater than he that sent 
him. If ye know T these things, happy 
are ye if ye do them. (John 13 : 12-17.) 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 67 

39. How can I be sure of holding out f 

Fear thou not ; for I am with thee : be 
not dismayed ; for I am thy God : I will 
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; 
yea, I will uphold thee with the right 
hand of my righteousness. (Isa. 41 : 10.) 

There hath no temptation taken you 
but such as is common to man : but God 
is faithful, who will not suffer you to 
be tempted above that ye are able ; but 
will with the temptation also make a 
way to escape, that ye may be able to 
bear it. (I. Cor. 10: 13.) 

And God is able to make all grace 
abound toward you, that ye, always 
having all sufficiency in all things, may 
abound to every good work. (II. Cor. 
9:8.) 

And he said unto me, My grace is 
sufficient for thee; for my strength is 
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly 
therefore will I rather glory in my in- 
firmities, that the power of Christ may 
rest upon me. (II. Cor. 12: 9.) 

Wherefore he is able also to save them 
to the uttermost that come unto God 
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make 
intercession for them. (Heb. 7: 25.) 

Now unto him that is able to keep you 
from falling, and to present you fault- 
less before the presence of his glory with 
exceeding joy. ( Jude 24. ) 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know 
them, and they follow me : and I give 
unto them eternal life ; and they shall 
never perish, neither shall any pluck 



68 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

them out of my hand. My Father, 
which gave them me, is greater thai] 
all ; and none is able to pluck them out 
of my Father's hand. (John 10 : 27-29. ) 

40. I do not feel like becoming a Chris- 
tian now. Can I not put this off until 
some other time ? 

For he saith, I have heard thee in a 
time accepted, and in the day of salva- 
tion have I succoured thee : behold, now 
is the accepted time ; behold, now is the 
day of salvation. (II. Cor. 6:2.) 

Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, 
To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden 
not your hearts, as in the provocation, 
in the day of temptation in the wilder- 
ness. (Heb. 3 : 7, 8.) 

Again, he limiteth a certain day, say- 
ing in David, To-day, after so long a 
time, as it is said, To-day if ye will 
hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 
(Heb. 4:7.) 

Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to- 
morrow we will go into such a city, and 
contiuue there a year, and buy and sell, 
and get gain ; whereas ye know not 
what shall be on the morrow. For 
what is your life? It is even a vapour, 
that appeareth for a little time, and i 
then vanisheth away. For that ye 
ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall 
live, and do this or that. But now ye j 
rejoice in your boastings : all such re- 
joicing is evil. Therefore to him that 
knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, 
to him it is sin. (James 4: 13-17.) 



CALENDAR FOR DAILY READ- 
ING OF SCRIPTURES, 

By Which the Bible May be Finished 
in One Year. 



Date. 


January. 




Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


Gen. 


1, 2, 3 


Matt, 


1 


2 


Gen. 


4, 5, 6 


Matt. 


2 


3 


Gen. 


7, 8, 9 


Matt. 


3 


4 


Gen. 


10, 11, 12 


Matt. 


4 


5 


Gen. 


13, 14, 15 


Matt. 


5: 1-26 


6 


Gen. 


16, 17 


Matt. 


5:27-48 


7 


Gen. 


18,19 


Matt. 


6: 1-18 


8 


Gen. 


20, 21, 22 


Matt. 


6:19-34 


9 


Gen. 


23,24 


Matt. 


7 


10 


Gen. 


25, 26 


Matt. 


8: 1-17 


11 


Gen. 


27, 28 


Matt. 


8:18-34 


12 


Gen. 


29,30 


Matt. 


9: 1-17 


13 


Gen. 


31,32 


Matt. 


9:18-38 


14 


Gen. 


33, 34, 35 


Matt. 


10: 1-20 


15 


Gen. 


36, 37, 38 


Matt. 


10:21-42 


16 


Gen. 


39,40 


Matt. 


11 


17 


Gen. 


41,42 


Matt. 


12: 1-23 


18 


Gen. 


43, 44, 45 


Matt. 


12:24-50 


19 


Gen. 


46, 47, 48 


Matt. 


13: 1-30 


20 


Gen. 


49, 50 


Matt. 


13:31-58 


21 


Ex. 


1, 2, 3 


Matt. 


14: 1-21 


22 


Ex. 


4, 5, 6 


Matt. 


14:22-36 


23 


Ex. 


7, 8 


Matt. 


15: 1-20 


24 


Ex. 


9, 10, 11 


Matt. 


15:21-39 


25 


Ex. 


12, 13 


Matt. 


16 


26 


Ex. 


14, 15 


Matt. 


17 


27 


Ex. 


16, 17, 18 


Matt. 


18: 1-20 


28 


Ex. 


19, 20 


Matt. 


18:21-35 


29 


Ex. 


21,22 


Matt. 


19 


30 


Ex. 


23,24 


Matt. 


20: 1-16 


31 


Ex. 


25,26 


Matt. 


20:17-34 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



Calendar— Continued. 



Date. 




February. 






Morning. 




Evening. 


1 


Ex. 


27,28 




Matt. 


21: 1-22 


2 


Ex. 


29, 30 




Matt. 


21:23-46 


3 


Ex. 


31, 32, 


33 


Matt. 


22: 1-22 


4 


Ex. 


34, 35 




Matt. 


22:23-46 


5 


Ex. 


36, 37, 


38 


Matt. 


23: 1-22 


6 


Ex. 


39,40 




Matt. 


23:23-39 


7 


Lev. 


1, 2, 


3 


Matt. 


24: 1-28 


8 


Lev. 


4 5 




Matt. 


24:29-51 


9 


Lev. 


6, 7 




Matt. 


25: 1-30 


10 


Lev. 


8, 9, 


10 


Matt. 


25:31-46 


11 


Lev. 


11, 12 




Matt; 


26: 1-25 


12 


Lev. 


13 




Matt. 


26:26-50 


13 


Lev. 


14 




Matt. 


26:51-75 


14 


Lev. 


15. 16 




Matt. 


27: 1-26 


15 


Lev. 


17; 18 




Matt. 


27:27-50 


16 


Lev. 


19, 20 




Matt. 


27:51-66 


17 


Lev. 


21,22 




Matt. 


28 


18 


Lev. 


23,24 




Mark 


1: 1-22 


19 


Lev. 


25 




Mark 


1:23-45 


20 


Lev. 


26,27 




Mark 


2 


21 


Num 


. 1, 2 




Mark 


3: 1-19 


22 


Nuin 


. 3, 4 




Mark 


3:20-35 


23 


Num 


. 5, 6 




Mark 


4: 1-20 


24 


Num 


. 7, 8 




Mark 


4:21-41 


25 


Num 


. 9, 10, 


11 


Mark 


5: 1-20 


26 


Num 


.12, 13, 


14 


Mark 


5:21-43 


27 


Nuiu 


.15. 16 




Mark 


6: 1-29 


28 


Num 


.17; is, 


19 


Mark 


6:30-56 


29 


Num 


.20, 21, 


22 


Mark 


7: 1-13 



Note. — "When February has but twenty-eight 
days, read the portion for the 29th with thai 
for the 28th. 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



Calendar — Continued. 



Date. 




March. 






Morn 


ing. 


Evening. 


1 


Num.23 


24, 25 


Mark 


7:14-37 


2 


Num.26 


27 


Mark 


8: 1-21 


3 


Nuni.28 


29,30 


Mark 


8:22-38 


4 


Xum.ol 


32,33 


Mark 


9: 1-29 


5 


Num.34 


35, 36 


Mark 


9:30-50 


6 


Deut. 1 


2 


Mark 


10: 1-31 


7 


Deut. 3 


4 


Mark 


10:32-52 


8 


Deut, 5 


6, 7 


Mark 


11: 1-18 


9 


Deut. 8 


9, 10 


Mark 


11:19-33 


10 


Deut. 11 


12, 13 


Mark 


12: 1-27 


11 


Deut. 14 


15. 16 


Mark 


12:28-44 


12 


Deut. 17 


18, 19 


Mark 


13: 1-20 


13 


Deut. 20 


21,22 


Mark 


13:21-37 


14 


Deut. 23 


24, 25 


Mark 


14: 1-26 


15 


Deut. 26 


27 


Mark 


14:27-53 


16 


Deut. 28 


29 


Mark 


14:- 54-72 


17 


Deut. 30 


31 


Mark 


15: 1-25 


18 


Deut. 32 


33,34 


Mark 


15:26-47 


19 


Josh. 1 


2, 3 


Mark 


16 


20 


Josh. 4 


5, 6 


Luke 


1: 1-20 


21 


Josh. 7 


8, 9 


Luke 


1:21-38 


22 


Josh. 10 


11, 12 


Luke 


1:39-56 


23 


Josh. 13 


14, 15 


Luke 


1:57-80 


24 


Josh. 16 


17, 18 


Luke 


2: 1-24 


25 


Josh. 19 


20, 21 


Luke 


2:25-52 


26 


Josh. 22 


23,24 


Luke 


3 


27 


Judg. 1 


2, 3 


Luke 


4: 1-30 


28 


Judg. 4 


5, 6 


Luke 


4:31-44 


29 


Judg. 7 


S 


Luke 


5: 1-16 


30 


Judg. 9 


10 


Luke 


5:17-39 


31 


Judg. 11 


12 


Luke 


6: 1-26 



72 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



Calendar— Continued. 



Date. 


April. 




Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


Judg. 13, 14, 15 


Luke 


6 


27-49 


2 


Judg. 16, 17, 18 


Luke 


7 


1-30 


3 


Judg. 19, 20, 21 


"Luke 


7 


31-50 


4 


Ruth 1, 2, 3, 4 


Luke 


S 


1-25 


5 


I. Sa. 1, 2, 3 


Luke 


8 


26-56 


6 


I. Sa. 4, 5, 6 


Luke 


9 


1-17 


7 


I. Sa. 7, 8, 9 


Luke 


9 


18-36 


8 


I. Sa. 10, 11, 12 


Luke 


9 


37-62 


9 


I. Sa. 13, 14 


Luke 


10 


1-24 


10 


I. Sa. 15, 16 


Luke 


10 


25-42 


11 


I. Sa. 17, 18 


Luke 


11 


1-28 


12 


I. Sa. 19, 20, 21 


Luke 


11 


29-54 


13 


I. Sa. 22, 23, 24 


Luke 


12 


1-31 


14 


I. Sa. 25, 26 


Luke 


12 


32-59 


15 


I. Sa. 27, 28, 29 


Luke 


13 


1-22 


16 


I. Sa. 30, 31 


Luke 


13 


23-35 


17 


Il.Sa. 1, 2 


Luke 


14 


1-24 


18 


Il.Sa. 3, 4, 5 


Luke 


14 


25-35 


19 


Il.Sa. 6, 7, 8 


Luke 


15 


1-10 


20 


Il.Sa. 9, 10, 11 


Luke 


15 


11-32 


21 


ILSa. 12, 13 


Luke 


16 


22 


Il.Sa. 14, 15 


Luke 


17 


1-19 


23 


Il.Sa. 16, 17, 18 


Luke 


17 


20-37 


24 


Il.Sa. 19, 20 


Luke 


18 


1-23 


25 


Il.Sa. 21, 22 


Luke 


18 


24-43 


26 


ILSa. 23, 24 


Luke 


19 


1-27 


27 


I. Ki. 1, 2 


Luke 


19 


28-48 


28 


I. Ki. 3. 4, 5 


Luke 


20 


1-26 


29 


I. Ki. 6, 7 


Luke 


20 


27-47 


30 


I.Ki. 8, 9 


Luke 


21 


1-19 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



73 



Calenda r — Ccmtin ued. 



Date. 


May. 




Morning. 


Ev 


ening. 


1 


I. Ki. 10, 11 


Luke 


21:20-38 


2 


I. Ki. 12 


13 


Luke 


22: 1-20 


3 


I. Ki. 14 


15 


Luke 


22:21-46 


4 


I. Ki. 16 


17, 18 


Luke 


22:47-71 


5 


I. Ki. 19 


20 


Luke 


23: 1-25 


6 


I. Ki. 21 


22 


Luke 


23:26-56 


7 


ILKi. 1 


1, 3 


Luke 


24: 1-35 


8 


II.Ki. 4 


5, 6 


Luke 


24:36-53 


9 


ILKi. 7 


8, 9 


John 


1: 1-28 


10 


ILKi.lO 


11, 12 


John 


1:29-51 


11 


LT.Ki.13 


14 


John 


2 


12 


n.Ki.lo 


16 


John 


3: 1-18 


13 


II.Ki.17 


18 


John 


3:19-36 


14 


II.Ki.19 


20,21 


John 


4: 1-30 


15 


II.Ki.22 


23 


John 


4:31-54 


16 


II.Ki.24 


25 


John 


5: 1-24 


17 


LCh. 1 


2, 3 


John 


5:25-47 


18 


I.Ch. 4 


5, 6 


John 


6: 1-21 


19 


LCh. 7 


8, 9 


John 


6:22-44 


20 


I. Ch. 10 


11,12 


John 


6:45-71 


21 


I. Ch. 13 


14, 15 


John 


7: 1-27 


22 


I. Ch. 16 


17, IS 


John 


7:28-53 


23 


I. Ch. 19 


20, 21 


John 


8: 1-27 


24 


I. Ch. 22 


23, 24 


John 


8:28-59 


25 


I. Ch. 25 


26, 27 


John 


9: 1-23 


26 


I. Ch. 28 


29 


John 


9:24-41 


27 


ILCh. 1 


2, 3 


John 


10: 1-23 


28 


ILCh. 4 


5, 6 


John 


10:24-42 


29 


ILCh. 7 


, 8, 9 


John 


11: 1-29 


30 


ILCh. 10 


11, 12 


John 


11:30-57 


31 


IL.Ch.13 


14 


John 


12: 1-26 



74 


THE SWORD OF THE IiOKD 




Calendar — Continued. 


> 


Bate. 


June. 






Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


II.Ch.15, 16 


John 


12:27-50 


2 


II.Ch.17, 18 


John 


13: 1-20 


3 


II.Ch.19, 20 


John 


13:21-38 


4 


II.Ch.21, 22 


John 


14 


5 


II.Ch.23, 24 


John 


15 


6 


II.Ch.25, 26, 27 


John 


16 


7 


II.Ch.28, 29 


John 


17 


8 


II.Ch.30, 31 


John 


18: 1-18 


9 


II.Ch.32, 33 


John 


18:19-40 


10 


II.Ch.34, 35, 36 


John 


19: 1-22 


11 


Ezra 1, 2 


John 


19:23-42 


12 


Ezra 3, 4, 5 


John 


20 


13 


Ezra 6, 7, 8 


John 


21 


14 


Ezra 9, 10 


Acts 


1 


15 


Neh. 1, 2, 3 


Acts 


2: 1-21 


16 


Neh. 4, 5, 6 


Acts 


2:22-47 


17 


Neh. 7, 8, 9 


Acts 


3 


18 


Neh. 10,11 


Acts 


4: 1-22 


19 


Neh. 12,13 


Acts 


4:23-37 


20 


Esth. 1, 2 


Acts 


5: 1-21 


21 


Esth. 3, 4, 5 


Acts 


5:22-42 


22 


Esth. 6, 7, 8 


Acts 


6 


23 


Esth. 9,10 


Acts 


7: 1-21 


24 


Job 1, 2 


Acts 


7:22-43 


25 


Job 3, 4 


Acts 


7:44-60 


26 


Job 5, 6, 7 


Acts 


8: 1-25 


27 


Job 8, 9, 10 


Acts 


8:26-40 < 


28 


Job 11, 12, 13 


Acts 


9: 1-21 


29 


Job 14, 15, 16 


Acts 


9:22-43 


30 


Job 17, 18, 19 


Acts 


10: 1-23 













THE SWORD OF THE LORD 75 




Calendar— Continued 




Date. 


July. 




Morning. 




Evening. 


1 


Job 


20,21 




Acts 


10:24-48 


2 


Job 


22, 23, 


24 


Acts 


11 


3 


Job 


25, 26, 


27 


Acts 


12 


4 


Job 


28,29 




Acts 


13: 1-25 


5 


Job 


30,31 




Acts 


13:26-52 


6 


Job 


32,33 




Acts 


14 


7 


Job 


34, 35 




Acts 


15: 1-21 


8 


Job 


36,37 




Acts 


15:22-41 


9 


Job 


38, 39, 


40 


Acts 


16: 1-21 


10 


Job 


41,42 




Acts 


16:22-40 


11 


Ps. 


1, 2, 


3 


Acts 


17: 1-15 


12 


Ps. 


4, 5, 


6 


Acts 


17:16-34 


13 


Ps. 


7, 8, 


9 


Acts 


18 


14 


Ps. 


10, 11, 


12 


Acts 


19: 1-20 


15 


Ps. 


13, 14, 


15 


Acts 


19:21-41 


16 


Ps. 


16, 17 




Acts 


20: 1-16 


17 


Ps. 


18, 19 




Acts 


20:17-38 


18 


Ps. 


20, 21, 


22 


Acts 


21: 1-17 


19 


Ps. 


23,24, 


25 


Acts 


21:18-40 


SO 


Ps. 


26, 27, 


28 


Acts 


22 


21 


Ps. 


29, 30 




Acts 


23: 1-15 


22 


Ps. 


31,32 




Acts 


23:16-35 


23 


Ps. 


33,34 




Acts 


24 


24 


Ps. 


35, 36 




Acts 


25 


25 


Ps. 


37, 38, 


39 


Acts 


26 


26 


Ps. 


40, 41, 


42 


Acts 


27: 1-26 


27 


Ps. 


43, 44, 


45 


Acts 


27:27-44 


28 


Ps. 


46, 47, 


48 


Acts 


28 


29 


Ps. 


49, 50 




Bom. 


1 


30 


Ps. 


51, 52, 


53 


Rom. 


2 


31 


Ps. 


54, 55. 


56 


Rom. 


3 



76 


THE SWORD OF THE LORD 




Calendar — Continued. 


\ 


Date. 


August. . I 




Morning. 




Evening. 


1 


Ps. 57, 


58, 


59 


Rom. 


4 


2 


Ps. 60, 


61, 


62 


Rom. 


5 


3 


Ps. 63, 


64, 


65 


Rom. 


6 


4 


Ps. 66, 


67 




Rom. 


7 


5 


Ps. 68, 


69 




Rom. 


8: 1-21 


6 


Ps. 70, 


71 




Rom. 


8:22-39 


7 


Ps. 72, 


73 




Rom. 


9: 1-15 


8 


Ps. 74, 


75, 


76 


Rom. 


9:16-33 


9 


Ps. 77, 


78 




Rom. 


10 


10 


Ps. 79, 


80 




Rom. 


11: 1-18 


11 


Ps. 81, 


82, 


83 


Rom. 


11:19-36 


12 


Ps. 84, 


85, 


86 


Rom. 


12 


13 


Ps. 87, 


88 




Rom. 


13 


14 


Ps. 89, 


90 




Rom. 


14 


15 


Ps. 91, 


92, 


93 


Rom. 


15: 1-13 


16 


Ps. 94, 


95, 


96 


Rom. 


15:14-33 


17 


Ps. 97, 


98, 


99 


Rom. 


16 


18 


Ps.100, 


101, 


102 


I. Co. 


1 


19 


Ps.103, 


104 




I. Co. 


2 


20 


Ps.105, 


106 




I. Co. 


3 


21 


Ps.107, 


108, 


109 


I. Co. 


4 


22 


Ps.110, 


111, 


112 


I. Co. 


5 


23 


Ps.113, 


114, 


115 


I. Co. 


6 


24 


Ps.116, 


117, 


118 


I. Co. 


7: 1-19 


25 


Ps.119: 


1- 


88 


I. Co. 


7:20-40 


26 


Ps.119: 


89-176 


I. Co. 


8 


27 


Ps.120, 


121, 


122 


I. Co. 


9 


28 


Ps.123, 


124, 


125 


I. Co. 


10: 1-18 


29 


Ps.126, 


127, 


128 


I. Co. 


10:19-33 


30 


Ps.129, 


130, 


131 


I. Co. 


11: 1-16 


31 


Ps.132, 


133, 


134 


I. Co. 


11:17-34 















THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



Calendar— Continued. 



Date. 


September. 




Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


Ps.135, 136 


I. Co. 12 


2 


Ps.137, 138, 139 


I. Co. 13 


3 


Ps.140, 141, 142 


I. Co. 14: 1-20 


4 


Ps.143, 144, 145 


I. Co. 14:21-40 


5 


Ps.146, 147 


I. Co. 15: 1-28 


6 


Ps.148, 149, 150 


I. Co. 15:29-58 


7 


Prov. 1, 2 


I. Co. 16 


8 


Prov. 3, 4, 5 


II. Co. 1 


9 


Prov. 6, 7 


II. Co. 2 


10 


Prov. 8, 9 


II. Co. 3 


11 


Prov. 10, 11, 12 


II. Co. 4 


12 


Prov. 13, 14, 15 


II. Co. 5 


13 


Prov. 16, 17, 18 


II. Co. 6 


14 


Prov. 19, 20, 21 


II. Co. 7 


15 


Prov. 22, 23, 24 


II. Co. 8 


16 


Prov. 25, 26 


II. Co. 9 


17 


Prov. 27, 28, 29 


II. Co. 10 


18 


Prov. 30, 31 


II. Co. 11: 1-15 


19 


Eccl. 1, 2, 3 


II. Co. 11:16-33 


20 


Eccl. 4, 5, 6 


II. Co. 12 


21 


Eccl. 7, 8, 9 


II. Co. 13 


22 


Eccl. 10, 11, 12 


Gal. 1 


23 


Song 1, 2, 3 


Gal. 2 


24 


Song 4, 5 


Gal. 3 


25 


Song 6, 7, 8 


Gal. 4 


26 


Isa. 1, 2 


Gal. 5 


27 


Isa. 3, 4 


Gal. 6 


28 


Isa. 5, 6 


Epn. 1 


29 


Isa. 7, 8 


Eph. 2 


30 


Isa. 9, 10 


Epn. 3 



78 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



Calendar— Continued. 



Date. 


October. 




Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


Isa. 


11, 12, 13 


Eph. 4 


2 


Isa. 


14, 15, 16 


Eph. 5: 1-16 


3 


Isa. 


17, 18, 19 


Eph. 5:17-33 


4 


Isa. 


20 21 22 


Eph. 6 


5 


Isa. 


23, 24^ 25 


Phil. 1 


6 


Isa. 


26,27 


Phil. 2 


7 


Isa. 


28, 29 


Phil. 3 


8 


Isa. 


30,31 


Phil. 4 


9 


Isa. 


32,33 


Col. 1 


10 


Isa. 


34, 35, 36 


Col. 2 


11 


Isa. 


37,38 


Col. 3 


12 


Isa. 


39,40 


Col. 4 


13 


Isa. 


41,42 


LThes. 1 


14 


Isa. 


43,44 


LThes. 2 


15 


Isa. 


45,46 


LThes. 3 


16 


Isa. 


47, 48, 49 


LThes. 4 


17 


Isa. 


50, 51, 52 


LThes. 5 


18 


Isa. 


53, 54, 55 


ILThes.1 


19 


Isa. 


56, 57, 58 


ILThes.2 


20 


Isa. 


59, 60, 61 


II.Thes.3 


21 


Isa. 


62, 63, 64 


I. Tiin. 1 


22 


Isa. 


65,66 


I. Tim. 2 


23 


Jer. 


1, 2 


I. Tim. 3 


24 


Jer. 


3, 4, 5 


I. Tim. 4 


25 


Jer. 


6, 7, 8 


I. Tim. 5 


26 


Jer. 


9, 10, 11 


I. Tim. 6 


27 


Jer. 


12, 13, 14 


II. Tim. 1 


28 


Jer. 


15, 16, 17 


II. Tim. 2 


29 


Jer. 


18, 19 


II. Tim. 3 


30 


Jer. 


20,21 


II. Tim. 4 


31 


Jer. 


22,23 


Titus 1 





THE SWORD OF THE LORD 79 


Calendar— Continued. 




Date. 


November. 




Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


Jer. 24, 25, 26 


Titus 


2 


2 


Jer. 27, 28, 29 


Titus 


3 


3 


Jer. 30, 31 


Philemon 


4 


Jer. 32, 33 


Heb. 


1 


5 


Jer. 34, 35, 36 


Heb. 


o 


6 


Jer. 37, 38, 39 


Heb. 


3 


7 


Jer. 40, 41, 42 


Heb. 


4 


8 


Jer. 43, 44, 45 


Heb. 


5 


9 


Jer. 46, 47 


Heb. 


6 


10 


Jer. 48, 49 


Heb. 


7 


11 


Jer. 50 


Heb. 


8 


12 


Jer. 51, 52 


Heb. 


9 


13 


Lam. 1, 2 


Heb. 


10: 1-18 


14 


Lam. 3, 4, 5 


Heb. 


10:19-39 


15 


Ezek. 1, 2 


Heb. 


11: 1-19 


16 


Ezek. 3, 4 


Heb. 


11:20-40 


17 


Ezek. 5, 6, 7 


Heb. 


12 


18 


Ezek. 8, 9, 10 


Heb. 


13 


19 


Ezek. 11, 12, 13 


Jas. 


1 


20 


Ezek. 14, 15 


Jas. 


o 


21 


Ezek. 16, 17 


Jas. 


3 


22 


Ezek. 18, 19 


Jas. 


4 


23 


Ezek. 20, 21 


Jas. 


5 


24 


Ezek. 22, 23 


I. Pet, 


1 


25 


Ezek. 24, 25, 26 


I. Pet. 


2 


26 


Ezek. 27, 28, 29 


I. Pet. 


3 


27 


Ezek. 30, 31, 32 


I. Pet. 


4 


28 


Ezek. 33, 34 


I. Pet. 


5 


29 


Ezek. 35, 36 


II. Pel 


. 1 


30 


Ezek. 37, 38, 39 


n. Pet. 2 











THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



Calendar— Concluded. 



Date. 


December. 




Morning. 


Evening. 


1 


Ezek. 40, 41 


II. Pet. 3 


2 


Ezek. 42, 43, 44 


I. John 1 


3 


Ezek. 45, 46 


I. John 2 


4 


Ezek. 47, 48 


I. John 3 


5 


Dan. 1, 2 


I. John 4 


6 


Dan. 3, 4 


I. John 5 


7 


Dan. 5, 6, 7 


II. John 


8 


Dan. 8, 9, 10 


III. John 


9 


Dan. 11, 12 


Jude 


10 


Hos. 1, 2, 3, 4 


Rev. 1 


11 


Hos. 5, 6, 7, 8 


Rev. 2 


12 


Hos. 9, 10, 11 


Rev. 3 


13 


Hos. 12, 13, 14 


Rev. 4 


14 


Joel 1, 2, 3 


Rev. 5 


15 


Amos 1, 2, 3 


Rev. 6 


16 


Amos 4, 5, 6 


Rev. 7 


17 


Amos 7, 8, 9 


Rev. 8 


18 


Obadiah 


Rev. 9 


19 


Jon. 1,2, 3, 4 


Rev. 10 


20 


Mic. 1, 2, 3 


Rev. 11 


21 


Mic. 4, 5 


Rev. 12 


22 


Mic. 6, 7 


Rev. 13 


23 


Nan. 1, 2, 3 


Rev. 14 


24 


Hab. 1, 2, 3 


Rev. 15 


25 


Zeph. 1, 2, 3 


Rev. 16 


26 


Hag. 1, 2 


Rev. 17 


27 


Zee. 1, 2, 3, 4 


Rev. 18 


28 


Zee. 5, 6, 7, 8 


Rev. 19 


29 


Zee. 9,10,11,12 


Rev. 20 


30 


Zee. 13, 14 


Rev. 21 


31 


Mai. 1, 2, 3, 4 


Rev. 22 



Note.— From " Bible Readers' Aids " of the j 
International Bible. By Permission. 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 8] 

WEIGHTS, MONEY, AND 
MEASURES, 1 

By REV. OWEN C. WHITEHOUSE, M.A. 

From Genesis 23: 16 we learn that the pre- 
cious metals, when used in commercial trans- 
actions, were weighed out. Precisely the 
same practice and phraseology prevailed 
among the Assyrians and Babylonians. The 
Hebrews, we know, possessed also standard 
weights. Thus we read of the " royal weight " 
(lit., stone) in II. Sa. 14: 26. Dr. Schrader 
points out {Cuneiform Inscriptions and the Old 
Testament, vol. i.,"p. 128) that in the imperial 
or standard weights discovered at Nineveh, 
in the form of figures of lions, ducks, etc., 
the weight is designated as imperial by the 
phrase "of the king," e.g., " mina i.or maneh) 
of the king." The following tables of weights, 
money, and measures will present as clearly 
as possible all that can be ascertained on this 
obscure subject by the highest authorities. 
Among the best of these authorities may be 
mentioned J. Brandis, Das Miinz, Maas, und 
Gewiehtsivesen in Vorderasien; and the various 
articles contributed by Mr. F. W. Madden, 
M.R.A.S. The figures furnished by the latter 
have, in the main, been followed by us. In 
the early history of Israel silver appears to 
have been the prevailing medium of com- 
merce, the mention of gold being compara- 
tively rare and incidental (Gen. 13: 2; 24: 35). 



WEIGHTS. 

Troy Weight, 
lbs. oz. dwts. grs. 

lGerah 0....0.... 0... .12.65 

1 Bekah (10 gerahs) 0....0.... 5.... 6.5 

1 Shekel (2 bekahs) 0... .0....10.... 13 

1 Maneh or mina ( 60 

shekels) 2. .7... 12 12 

1 Talent (kikkar) (60 ma- 
nehs), i.e., weight-tal- 
ent "of the king".. . . 158. ...1... .10.... 



iFrom Bible Readers' Aids of the Interna- 
tional Bible. By permission. 
6 



82 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



MONEY. 

I. Old Testament Period. 

Troy Weight. Money 
(a) Silver. ft. oz. dwt. gr. Value. 

1 Shekel (holy 

shekel) 9 8.8... $0.64 

1 Maneh (mina) 

(=50 shekels).. 1 11 8 8 ... 32.00 
1 Talent (=60 ma- 

nehs) 117 (about) , 1,920.00 

(6) Gold. 

1 Shekel 10 13 ... 9.60 

1 Maneh or mina 

(=50 shekels) . . 2 2 6 22 ... 480.00 
1 Talent (=60 ma- 

nehs) 131 8 14 14 ...28,800.00 

II. New Testament Period. 

(a) Copper. 

Lepton (mite) about .0012 

Quadrans (farthing)=2 lepta " .0025 

Assarion or As (penny)=4 quad- 

rantes about .01 

(6) Silver. 

Denarius ( penny ) = drachma=16 

asses about .16 

Did?-achm=2 drachmas or denarii .32 

Slater or tetradrachm=shekel. .. .64 , 

Mina or pound (Attic)=S0 shekels 19.10 

Talent=m minse {Attic) 1,146.00 

(c) Gold. 

Imperial Aureus 5.04 

Stater 5.28 

MEASURES OF CAPACITY AND LENGTH. 

Respecting measures of liquid and dry 
capacity, it is impossible to give an accurate 
standard of content; for rabbinic authorities 
measure an ephah or bath as four gallons, 
while Josephus assigns it double this meas- 
ure. Assuming, then, eight gallons as an 
approximate hypothetical estimate for the 
content of an ephah, we obtain the following 
table of Hebrew measures of capacity: 

1 Log 7 :i pint. 

1 Cab=4 logs o>o pints. 

1 Hin=3 cabs 1% gallons. 

1 Omer=l§ cabs 6 ' pints. 

1 Seah=3x> omers 2% gallons. 

1 Ephah or bath =3 seahs. 8 gallons. 

1 Lethech=5 ephahs 40 gallons. 

1 Homer=10 ephahs 80 gallons. 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 83 

Similarly, respecting measures of length, we 
have insufficient data to enable us to do more 
than present the following approximations: 

1 Digit %inch. 

1 Palm=4 digits 3 inches. 

1 Span=3 palms 9 inches. 

1 Cubit=2 spans IV, feet. 

1 Reed=6 cubits 9 ~ feet. 

In the Greek and Roman periods the fol- 
lowing measures of distance prevailed in 
common use: 

A Roman foot 11.65 inches. 

A Greek foot 1 foot 0.135 inch. 

A Roman passus 4 feet 10 1 4 inches. 

A Greek fathom (bpyvid) .6 feet 1 inch. 
A Greek furlong {<tto.Siov). 202 yards. 

A Roman mile 0.92 English mile, or 

about 1,615 yards. 
A Persian parasang 3>2 miles (nearly). 



84 THE SWORD OF THE LOUD 

HEBREW CALENDAR. 1 

By REV. OWEN C. W T HITEHOUSE, M.A. 

The Year.— The primitive character of the 
arrangement of the Jewish year is shown by 
its close correspondence to the course of agri- 
cultural life, beginning in early times after 
the close of harvest. This earlier method is 
reflected in what is called the Jewish civil 
year. The Jewish sacred or ecclesiastical year, 
on the other hand, follows the Babylonian 
system. One main stimulating cause for the 
adoption of this new arrangement, which 
made spring, and not autumn, the commence- 
ment of the year, was the great importance 
of the Passover festival, which marked the 
commencement of the Jewish festal cycle. 

The Months.— The year consisted of twelve 
lunar months, and the month contained 
from twenty-nine to thirty days. The Jew- 
ish, like the Babylonian, month began with 
the evening when the new moon was first 
observed, and the entire length of the year 
of twelve months was three hundred and 
fifty-four days. This discrepancy between 
the lunar and the solar year made interca- 
lary months necessary, both in the Babylon- 
ian and Jewish systems. Thus we have an 
intercalary (or second) Adar, called Ve-adar. 

The Day and the Night.— The civil day of 
twenty-four hours was reckoned from sunset 
to sunset. This is clear from the express 
injunction in Lev. 23: 32 to reckon the Sab- 
bath from evening to evening. The reference 
in Gen. 1:5 is far from clear, and therefore 
should not be quoted in this connection. 

The following terms were employed by the 
ancient Hebrews to mark the progress of the 
day: (1) Shachar, the early dawn; (2) Boko; 
early part of the morning; (3) "Heat of the 
day," about ten o'clock (Gen. 18: 1); (4) Noon 
(Gen. 43: 16; Deut. 28: 29); (5) "Cool [lit., breeze] 
of the day, "near sunset (Gen. 3:8); (6) Evening. 

(Note.— The later division of the day was. 
Third hour, 6 to 9 A.M. ; Sixth hour, 9 to 12 A.M. ; 
Ninth hour, 12 to 3 P.M. ; Twelfth hour. 3 to 6 p.m.) 

The night was divided by the ancient 
Hebrews into three watches, so far as we can 
gather from scattered notices. The first prob- 
ably lasted till about ten at night (Lam. 2: 19), 
the second till about two in the morning. — 
"the middle watch" ( Judg. 7: 19),— and " the 
morning watch" till sunrise (Ex. 14: 24). But 
in the Greek and Roman periods there were 

1 From " Bible Readers' Aids" of the Inter- 
national Bible. By permission. 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



85 



four watches, viz.: (1) From six till nine 
(Mark 11: 11; John 20: 19, 6i//e, b^La & P a) ; (2) from 
nine till midnight (Mark 13: 5) ; (3) from mid- 
night till 3 a.m. (Mark 13: 35); (4) from 3 a.m. 

till 6 A.M. (John 18: 28, irptat Or 7rpa>ia iopa). 

The following table will be found useful as 
containing the Jewish calendar for the entire 
year, with the accompanying festivals and 
fasts : 



Abib or Nisail (March -April). 

Latter or spring rains (Deut. 11: 14). 
Barley harvest begins. 

1st— Xew Moon. Beginning of the 
Sacred Year. 14th— Preparation 
for Passover — paschal lamb eaten . 
in the evening, loth— Sabbath 
and Holy Convocation. Week of 
unleavened bread begins. 16th— 
The offering of €)mer or First 
Sheaf (Lev. 23: 10-12). 21st— Holy 
Convocation. 
Iyyar or Zif (April-May). 

Barley harvest (Ruth 1: 22). 

1st — New Moon. 10th — Fast to com- 
memorate the death of Elijah. 
14th— Second or Little Passover. 28th 
—Fast for the death of Samuel. 
Sivan (May-June). 

Wheat harvest. 

1st— Xew Moon. 6th and 7th— Pen- 
tecost or Feast of Weeks, marking 
the close of harvest. 
Tammuz (June-July). 

1st— Xew Moon. 17th— Fast to com- 
memorate the breach in the wall 
of Jerusalem (Jer. 52: 5-7). 
Ab (July-August). 

Grapes, figs, and olives begin to 
ripen as the month progresses. 

1st— Xew Moon. 9th— Fast for the 
destruction of the temple by 
Xebuzaradan. 
Elul i August-September). 

Vintage begins, also harvest of 
maize. Pomegranates ripen. 

1-st— Xew Moon. 7th— Feast for the 
dedication of the walls by Xe- 
hemiah. 
Tishri or Ethanim (September-Octo- 
ber). 

Former or early rains (Joel 2: 23). 
Plowing and sowing begin. 

1st — Xew Moon. Js'eiv- Year's Day. 
Beginning of the Civie Year. 
Feast of Trumpets. 3d — Fast for 



THE SWORD OF THE LORD 



1 i 
1 * 


5 *** 


8 


2 


9 


3 


10 


4 


11 


5 


12 


6 


13 





Gedaliah's assassination (Jer. 41:. 
2-6; II. Kings 25: 25). 10th— Kip- 
purim or Bay of Atonement. 15th- 
22d— Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. 
21st— Feast of'Branches or Palms. 
Marchesvan or Bui (October-Novem- 
ber). 
Wheat and barley sown. 
1st— New Moon. 
Kislev (November- December). 
1st— New Moon. 25th— Cha?iuccah 
— Feast of Dedication. 
Tebet (December-January). 
1st— New Moon. 10th— Fast com- 
memorating the beginning of 
Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jeru- 
salem (II. Kings 25: 1). 
Shebat (January-February). 

1st— New Moon. 
Adar (February-March). 
Almond tree blossoms. 
1st— New Moon. 13th — Fast of 
Esther. 14th and 15th— Feast of 
Purim. 
Ve-adar (intercalary month). 



'WHY ART THOU CAST DOWN, iVtt 
SOUL?" 

[Ps. 42:5, 11.] 



Much of my life, Lord, seems to me 
A seeming to be good, and not reality ; 
An effort to conform to rule of right, 
And not a shining forth of inward light; 

A struggle to bear fruit, and be like thee, 
And not a branch abiding in the tree. 
My heart is burdened, Lord ; reveal, I pray, 
If there be not for me a better way. 

Thou knowest, Lord, I would not have it so ; 
Thou knowest, in my heart I would be true. 
Then, for thy name's sake lead me, Lord, 
And to my darkened mind the light afford. 

THE LORD'S REPLY. 

" I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that 
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth 
forth much fruit : for without me ye can do 
nothing." (John 15 : 5.) 

Have I not told thee plainly, O my child, 

That peace and rest are found in me alone? 
That thou art in thyself, and self life, all de- 
filed, 
So that to look at self must make thee 
groan ? 

Why then with aught of self be occupied? 

Why look away from me, thy life and light? 
Why wilt thou not for aye in me abide, 
And draw each moment from my power and 
might ? 

87- 



S8 THE SWORD OF THE LORD 

Dost thou not know my life flows down fo 
thee, 
While to thy soul my presence faith doth 
seal? 
If faith be acting not, how canst thou see 
Aught but thy sinful self, and aught els- 
feel? 

If to forgive thy sins I have the power, 

Have I not power thy soul in life to kee:, 
Canst thou not trust, though dark may be t 
hour, 
The Shepherd will be near to guard h 
sheep? 

When light from God first dawned upon thy 
soul, 
Thou knowest that it came by faith in n 
alone ; 
Not satisfied with self, e'er made thee whole; 
But, sinful in thyself, my grace to thee was 
shown. 

As thus thy life began by faith in me, 
In me that life continues, day by day ; 

As faith, "the dying daily," works in thee, 
So God the Holy Ghost shall life supply. 

"Abide in Me "; come to me, and remain ; 

No longer now a servant, but a son. 
Accept the clasp of God's eternal chain, 

That all the called of Christ, in Christ, ai 
all called one. 

'Abide in Me," as heat in light abides ; 

As beating pulse upon the heart relies ; 
As helpless infant on the mother's life con 
fides; 
As every blossom lives on what the ro 
supplies. 

"Abide in Me," not truth, apart from me, 
For I, the Christ, am Truth, and Life, and 
Way; 

By me, the Way, to God in grace brougb* 
nigh, 
Abide in me for grace, from day to day. 



,0 022 168 994 Ai 



